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WUNNISSOO, 



VALE OF IIOOSATUNNUK, 



A rOEM, WITH NOTES. 



By WILLIAM ALLEN, D.D., 

A MiiMBER OF THE niSTORICAL SOCIETIES OP MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, NEW 

UAMPSniRE, NEW YORK, AND NEW JERSEY, LATE PRESIDENT 

OF BOWDOIN COLLEGE, AUTUOR OF TUB AMERICAN 

BIOGRAPUICAL DICTIONARY. 



BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED BY JOHN P. JEWETT AND COMPANY. 

CLEVELAND. OHIO: JEWETT, PEOCTOR & WOKTIIINGTON. 

NEW YOKK: SHELDON, BLAKEMAN & COMPANY. 

M DCCC.fcVI. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by 
William Allen, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court 
of the District of Massachusetts. 



AMEEICAN STEREOTYPE COMPANY, 28 PH(ENIX BUttDDfG, CORNER OP 
DEVONSHIRE STREET AND EXCHANGE PLACE, BOSTON. 



PREFACE 



In the following poem it has been the aim 
of the writer to utter truths and sentiments, 
which are calculated to enlarge and improve 
the heart and to ennoble the character. He 
could not deem himself innocent, if his lei- 
sure hours were given to idle, unprofitable 
minstrelsy ; but, if his harp be so attuned to 
pure and heavenly strains, as that any should 
listen with interest and benefit, he would be 
shielded from self-reproach. 

In the present unusual culture of a literary 
taste in this country he conceived, that poetry 
might be made, as it should be, the hand- 
maid of religion. Among the principles of 
our nature that of fancy has a most impor- 
tant influence upon our happiness ; and, if 
not occupied in idle musings, but wisely di- 
rected, it may lend illustration and enforce- 



4: PREFACE. 

ment to the weightiest and sublimest truths. 
The author, it will be seen, has adopted the 
form of a narrative, wishing to make the 
story the vehicle of truth and emotion. But 
the narrative is founded on real events, and 
never surpasses the bounds of possibility; it 
has also, as he thinks, the necessary verisimili- 
tude, so a& not to awaken a painful feeling of 
doubt and mistrust. He might have produced 
a philosophical, moral, religious poem, desti- 
tute of a story and barren of incidents ; but 
there would have been wanting a common 
bond to link the different stanzas into one 
piece ; — ^there would have been wanting also 
the power of sympathy, by which the con- 
cerns of a feUow-being seize strongly upon 
our heart, perhaps more strongly than all 
that is beautiful and grand in nature. 

To those scrupulous minds, that revolt at 
every thing in the garb of fiction, he would 
say, that they can hardly have reflected on 
the multitude of parables or fictitious stories, 
scattered throughout the Holy Scriptures, and 
which were uttered by Him, who is the Truth. 
When the aim is to instruct, and not to de- 
ceive and delude, who ought to object to a 



PREFACE. O 

parable, or story ? Indeed, instead of calling 
instruction thus communicated a fiction, it 
might be more proper to call it truth in the 
array of fancy, and to consider it as the visit 
of an angel in the form of a man. 

He has been accustomed to think, that the 
interest and value of poetry depend much 
upon its being the expression of the deep 
conviction and strong feeling of the writer. 
Therefore he has uttered nothing but what 
he thoroughly believes ; nothing but what he 
has felt. To most of the scenes described he 
has not been a stranger. He speaks from 
knowledge ; and he cherishes the hope, that 
this little book will find a welcome in many 
a pious heart. 

The writer has ever thought, that simplicity 
in writing is a great excellence ; but he 
intends by it, not a childishness of thought, 
expressed in childishness of language, but 
natural, and it may be rich and affecting sen- 
timents, presented in pure Saxon, in the most 
perspicuous manner possible, as one of our 
clear, northern lakes reveals through its trans- 
parent waters the objects lying at the bottom. 
Any peculiarities of style, which obscure the 



PREFACE. 



thought or divert attention from it, he deems 
a defect ; and such a defect, as if the lake 
was frozen, and as if the ice was formed, 
when the flood was unquiet, or with inter- 
mingled sleet, so that nothing can be seen be- 
low, and the eye is confined to the hues and 
shapes of the mantle, thrown over the clear 
waters. When the thought is of no value 
and there is a poverty of conception, we may 
allow a gorgeousness of diction and an inver- 
sion and obscurity of style. 

The author is persuaded, that the stanza of 
Spenser is altogether preferable to any other 
measure for a poem of the kind, which is here 
given to the public. It has the advantage of 
partition into distinct portions of nine lines ; 
whereas the solid mass of the common heroic 
verse is rather terrifying to the reader. It has 
the higher advantage of variety in the pauses. 
It combines much of the freedom and dignity 
of blank verse with the pleasures of rhyme. 
There is also a degree of elevation and mag- 
nificence in the lengthened, closing line of 
each stanza. 

Yet to the unpractised reader of poetry it 
may at first appear somewhat perplexed, al- 



PREFACE. 7 

though the rhymes are regular and invariable. 
But all difficulty will at once vanish, when it 
is considered, that each stanza consists of 
alternate rhymes, like Gray's Elegy, with an 
additional closing line rhyming with the 
eighth, and with the law, that the fifth line 
rhyme also with the fourth. 

Of the capabilities of Spenser's stanza, no 
one can doubt, who is conversant with his 
Fairy Queen, or with Thomson's Castle of 
Indolence, Beattie's Minstrel, Campbell's Ger- 
trude of Wyoming, The Pilgrimage of Byron, 
or Southey's Tale of Paraguay. Of Camp- 
bell's Gertrude, with all its beauties, it may 
not be improper for an American to remark, 
that there is a want of correctness in the de- 
scription, a failure in the keeping of the piece. 
He represents, that exiles from every clime 
met at Wyoming ; whereas, the inhabitants 
were a colony from Connecticut. But this is 
a more pardonable fault, than to speak of the 
flamingo as disporting on our northern lakes, 
and of the everlasting aloes, and palm-tree, 
and crocodile as belonging to the natural his- 
tory and scenery of Pennsylvania. This is 
like speaking of lions and camels in Spitzber- 



8 



PREPACK. 



gen, or bread-fruit trees in the highlands of 
Scotland. 

It has been the aim of the writer of this 
poem — with what success the reader must 
judge — ^to preserve truth in the description of 
natural objects, and of Indian customs and 
manners. For the freedom of some of his 
rebukes he makes no apology. However in- 
dulgent we may be to the harmless structures 
of the imagination, yet eternal truth and 
immutable virtue have rights and claims, 
which are never to be disregarded ; and none, 
who transgress the laws of either, whether 
maliciously or incautiously, should be shielded 
from censure or correction. 

The title of this poem carries back the 
writer to his native village and the scenes of 
the earlier periods of his life. With the dear, 
distant vale are connected interesting histori- 
cal facts, some of which are described with 
such meditations, as were suggested to his 
mind, and seemed adapted to his object of 
combining pleasure with important instruc- 
tion. 

BowDOiN College, Maine, Nov. 25, 1826. 



SKCONl) IMlllKAOK.. 



It is miv, iliat ;i loii^^ \n)vm is i)iil)liHli(^d by 
a writer, who liiis Inivi'lUul Ix^yoiul ilu^ di^sig- 
natcd, scriptural period of human life ; but, al- 
though the author of this poein is aii old man, 
it was not written by an old man. It will be 
seen by the date of the first preface, that it 
was written thirty years ago. The history of 
it is this. While walking amidst a paradise of 
blessings, with one by my side more dear to 
me, than beguiled Eve, though exceeding fair, 
was to Adam, I composed this poem. If th(*> 
thought of publishing it ever entered my 
mind, the thought was associated with its 
being read in print, as it was in manu- 
script, by the kindled eye of afteetioii. I^it 



10 SECOND PREFACE. 

at this moment of my bliss the loved one 
suddenly passed away, and this testimony 
of my love was buried with her, — ^but did 
not, like her, remain fresh in my heart; 
for it slept among my papers, untU in the 
lapse of years I had forgotten its exist- 
ence. At last my memory was awakened 
by my being called to deliver a poem at 
the Berkshire Jubilee, in 1844, at the as- 
sembly of the natives of the Hoosatunnuk 
Valley, in Pittsfield. But again I laid it 
aside, and have let it rest once more for 
a new period, longer than the nine years 
recommended by Horace. Recently I have 
read it anew, and have now concluded to 
offer this poem to the public in the hum- 
ble hope, that it may find readers, whom 
it may please, and whom it may strength- 
en, in the love and practice of that, which 
is good. A few verses, it will be seen, are 
added to the poem in a separate piece, 



SECOND PllEFACE. 11 

which were written immediately after the 

funeral of her, to whom it is dedicated. 

I now publish this poem with the same 

moral aims, which are expressed in the 

first preface, and of which, as the proper 

aims of poetry, Dryden was not ignorant. 

His words are :— 

" O, gracious God ! how far Lave we 
Proiau'd thy heavenly gift of Poesy V 
Made prostitute and profligate the muse, 
Debas'd to each obscene and impious use, 
Whose harmony was first ordain'd above 
For tongues of angels and for hymns of love?" 

A high responsibleness rests upon the 
poet for the correctness and distinctness of 
the moral and religious sentiments, which 
he utters ; for error leads to folly and ini- 
quity, and it is truth, which is associated 
with virtue and happiness. It is a base 
thing to pollute the fancy, and to infuse a 
poison into the heart ; and it is hardly less 
injurious to inculcate error in contradiction 



12 SECOND PREFACK, 

to the explicit and authoritative teaching 
of the divine word. 

In looking at the great mass of English 
poetry it saddens the heart to think, how 
much of it bears an immoral character, 
and how small a portion of it is perfectly 
consonant with the ennobling principles of 
the gospel. The heathen poets praised their 
false gods; but many of our Christian 
poets seem ashamed to acknowledge the 
true God, and seem also to be ignorant 
of the sublime doctrines pertaining to the 
redemption of the world by the atoning 
sacrifice of the Son of God, who came 
down from heaven, — the most precious of 
all the truths, which can be brought to 
the knowledge of man. 

NoRxnAMPTON, Massachusetts, April 5, 1856. 



CONTENTS. 



Pago 

Preface 3 

Second Preface 9 

Dedication 15 

Canto 1 21 

Youth Embarking 47 

Canto II f>3 

Hymn on the Nativity of Christ ?5 

Canto IIT 91 

Tho Ravens' War Hymn 118 

Canto IV 125 

Hymn of tho Redcomod 155 

After tho Funeral of my Wife 159 

Notes. 

Wunnissoo 1G7 

County of Bovkshiro 

Massachusetts 1^^ 

Pontoosuc or Pittsfield 

Rev. Thomas Allen 170 

Origin of Indians l'''l 

Bunch Words 1''5 

Mohcgan 

Indian Languages l'^^ 

Indian Trade 1^2 

Ahkook or Kettle 1^3 

Love of Onkuppee ^^^ 

John Sergeant ^^^ 



14 CONTENTS. 

Page 
Stockbridge and Great Barrington.. . . - 196 

Wampum 199 

Birds of New England 201 

Poetic Idolatry " 

Indian Canoe .202 

Indian Belief 204 

Wigwam 205 

Bii-ch Bark « 

Indians described 206 

Indian Stone-Heaps 207 

Dighton Rock 208 

Totems « 

Powwows 209 

Catholic Miracles 210 

Indian Converts 211 

Preachers to Indians 215 

Newell and Hall 218 

Horses to Travellers 219 

Slavery " 

Cicero on Future Existence 223 

Carter and Woodbury " 

Northern Lights, 224 

Niagara Falls " 

Mrs. Gumming 225 

Peace Congress at Paris " 

Victor Hugo 226 

East Hoosuck Fort 228 

Mr. Stevens and Miss Piercy. " 

Sackville " 

Jonathan Edwards 231 

Mohegan Language 232 

Note for a Memorable Day 236 



DEDICATION 



MARIA MALLEVILLE WHEELOCK ALLEN. 



1. 

Malleville ! Companion of my earthly way, 

Leading to bright and blessed world above, 
In fleeting years gone by our feet did stray 
In that sweet Vale, my harp to sing hath strove, 
Whither I drew thee from thy mucli-lov'd 

"Plain," 
Where Dartmouth's sons thy Father's care did 

train. 
In that far distant vale the elder born 
Of our young flock first saw life's pleasant mom : 
Dear then that spot to them, to thee, to me, — 
And sure my song to please those, whom I love. 
But higher aims my minstrelsy emmove, — 
To teach the truth divine and godlike charity. 



1 DEDICATION. 

2. 

The liapp}^ces, smiling round our board, 
We have in charge to guide ^Yhere God doth 

dwell, 
For all in vain for them is earthly hoard 
Of treasure and of joy, as we know well, 
And vain the pride of lofty-beaming mind, 
And vain the glowing fantasy relin'd, 
Unless with heav'nly hope their bosoms swell, 
And for them treasures in the skies are stor'd. 
Our toils pursue this high and holy end 
From day to day, — their untaught steps to guide, 
That they from heav'nward path may never 

bend 
To stray in downward, crowded way and wide. 
Yet oft the images of those, we lov'd, 
The needful, wise admonishment do bring. 
That we by sudden flight may be removed 
From this our work, from joys that round us 
spring, 
As quits her nest the startled bird on rapid wing. 



DEDICATION. 17 

8. 
If this iho will of God, and wo should live 
Within their hearts, as otiuM-s Hv(^ in ours, 
This record of tlu^ truths wo loves may }:;ivo 
Impression doop oVmi to their latest hours, 
And song may teach, whon death our IV;inio 

devours. 
Their tabernacle too will death o'erthrovv, 
And bring each bright and beauteous structure 

low ; 
But, if they love, as wo with fervor pray, 
The matchless Friend of man, who did not hide 
His face from contumelious array, 
But on the tort'ring cross a victim died, 
This love o'er death a victory will ensure. 
Tlieir bodies in the gravo will sleep secure ; 
And when the great, eternal nioin sliall break. 
And nil from their deep slumbers shall awake, 
Both we, and they, and all the good sliall rise, 
As we do hope, and with immortal wing 
Mount upward to our home in yonder skies, 
2 



18 DEDICATION. 

And for interminable ages sing 
In strains, my harp to echo vainly tries, 
And which transcend all mortal carolhng, 
His rapt'rous praise, who to the bliss of heaven 
doth bring. 

BoAVDOiN College, Dec. 26, 1826. 



€l)t IMt nf 30nn0attiiinak, 



CANTO I. 



WLINNISSOO, 



OK 



THE VALE OF IIOOSATUNNUK. 



OANTO r. 



1- 

TiiROUGn Hoosatunnuk's Vale there ilovvs the 

stream, 
Along whose banks, in cliildhood's joyous days, 
Oft have I i^tray'd and niark'd its silver gleam 
And rippling surfaee, as the gay iisli i)lays, 
Myself as gay and happy, while the blaze 
Of noontide sun o'er all tlie varied seene 
Scatter'd profuse his rich, delusive rays. 
Gilding the stream, and tree, and meadow green 
With more delightful hues, than ever since my eyes 
have seen. 



22 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

2. 

Dear Vale, to vie with thine what strains shall 
Did ever warbler half so sweetly sing, [dare ? 
As red-breast, filling all thy od'rous air, — 
What time the sun breaks through the shower of 

sprmg,— 
With clear and hearty notes, that rapture bring, 
Tuning the praise of Him, whose covenant bow 
Is stretch'd in th' eastern sky on fairy wing, 
And with his joyous strains, that ceaseless flow, 

Shaming the thankless hearts, which with no fervors 
glow? 

3. 
Did ever wild-flow'r breathe perfume so sweet. 
As thine, or ever bear so rich a guise ? 
The modest violet beneath my feet, 
The lowly dandelion's golden dyes. 
The moccasin flow'r, peerless in my eyes, — 
Pluck'd in the well-known swamp of larch and 

brake, — 
Now prun'd, alas, a meadow smooth it lies, — 
With snow-white lily, gather'd in the lake, 

All in my glowing heart the purest joys did wake. 



CANTO 1. 23 

4. 
Fresh in my heart is now the village-green, — 
Though distant far, and years have rolled away, — 
"Where church and school-house stand in graceful 

mien, 
And where my eager childhood held its play. 
O venerable Elm of proud array. 
Whose tow'riiig head o'crtops the temple's vane. 
And both point upward to the realms of day I 
Beneath thee oft by moonlight have I lain, 

While thy vast shadowy length was stretch'd along 
the plain. 

5. 
And then the dark-blue mountain, on whose brow, 
Like turban on the Moor-man's swarthy face. 
The clouds were often wreath'd in folds of snow, 
Rais'd his huge form o'er all th' incumbent space, 
And seem'd the giant guardian of the place. 
Not e'en th' Olympian mount on Tempo's vale 
Frowns so sublime, nor with such awful grace ; 
And in my eye e'en Tempo's charms would fail 

To match the beauties of my lovely, native dale. 



24 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

6. 

Pontoosuc then the spot, now Pittsfield named, 
So call'd from him, whose voice the chapel shook. 
Where England's Senate sate. With eye inflamed 
With indignation, with majestic look, [strook. 
With outstretch'd arm, and tones, which terror 
He cried, — as liberty his great heart warms, — 
" American were I, I would not brook 
The wrong; and, while your hirelings spread 
alarms. 
Never ! never ! never ! would I lay down my arms ! " 

7. 
These beauties live, yet all to me are dead : 
Chang'd is the stream, and hill, and bird, and 

flower, 
For childhood's wondrous garnishment is fled. 
And many a dear associate of the hour, 
Whose love bestow'd on all the scene its power, — 
A father's holy face, and sister's heart, 
And brothers' friendly hands, — are now no more. 
Th' unpitying king has struck them with his dart ; 
And faded is the bliss, which nature's charms im- 
part. 



CANTO I. 25 

8. 
The forms of vanisli'd joys do haunt the scene, 
And, hid from others, glide before my eye : 
Ah, who can calmly see their mournful mien, 
And gaze upon tli' unreal mockery ? 
Yet, Hoosatunnuk ! turns my soul to thee. 
And rooted scenes still in my memory cling; 
No force can tear tliem thence, while life may be. 
Then let me to my God an off 'ring bring. 
While of my native vale with grief and joy I sing. 

9- 
Where Massachusetts' western bound is spread, 
A river winds toward the noonday light 
Through fertile fields and meads with flow'rs 

o'erspread, 
On either side uprear'd a mountain height. 
The vale, now grateful to the ploughshare bright, 
Cover'd with English herds and flocks of Spain, 
With pop'lous towns and villages bedight. 
And waving with tall grass or yellow grain. 
Was, not twice fifty years ago, a forest plain. 



26 VALE OP HOOSATUNNUK. 

10. 

It was a wilderness of various wood ; — 
Elm, hemlock, maple, birch on high did climb, 
But over all the pine in kingly mood 
Did proudly stand with peerless head sublime. 
The forest seem'd untouched from birth of time, 
Save where was seen an Indian hamlet's flame, 
Rising in valley sweet, where waters chime, 
The place selected both for fish and game : 
The river and the vale bore Hoosatunnuk's name. 

11. 

The Indians in this fair, retired vale 
Were scions of the old Mohegan tree. 
Tallest of all the trees, that feel the gale ; 
Their language spread from salt to inland sea^ 
With common root, but branching variously. 
Their toils were chiefly labors of the chase ; 
They could not boast of skill in husbandry, 
Save that for maize and climbing beans they 
trace 
And cultivate by female hands a narrow space. 



CANTO I. 27 

12. 

Alas for woman in the savage state, 
Doom'd like a slave to work her master's will, 
And bear each burden for her lordly mate, 
While he pursues the game o'er dale and hill ! 
Yet better far this drudg'ry to fulfil. 
Than be the pretty, soulless, flatter'd thing, 
In softness bred, shrinking from shghtest ill ; 
For toil is questionless of health the spring, 
While idleness can nothing yield but suffering. 

13. 

The red men in this solitary nook 
From where they late had liv'd had hither fled ; 
For ill could they the face of white man brook, 
Whose axe brings low the forest wide-outspread, 
And opens to the sun the hunter's shade. 
Yet even here they scarcely were removed 
By one day's journey from the plough and spade : 
The power of culture was around them proved, 
Save to the north there stretch'd the wilderness, they 
loved. 



28 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

14. 

Along the mountain ridges they pursued 
"With zeal unwearied and with keen delight 
The lofty moose, with branching horns endued, 
Whose clatt'ring hoofs resounded in his flight, — 
The shaggy bear, and deer with feet most light, — 
Whose skins the needful clothing did bestow, 
And flesh abated their fierce appetite : [low, 

'Twas when a whizzing ball their game brought 
Their eager minds with savage joy did overflow. 

15. 

Musquash and others of the furry race 

Along the streams and lakes with traps they caught ; 

But chief the beaver, whom they knew to trace 

By riv'let's dam, with skill and labor wrought, — 

A wondrous work in animal untaught ; — 

Their broad, sharp teeth, like adze, the trees cut 

down. 
And having rais'd the pond with wise forethought, 
Above the wave their domiciles they crown, — 
Well-order'd commonweal and pop'lous, thriving 

town. 



CANTO I. 29 

16. 
When thus of furs the Indians had good store, 
They knew with white men how to urge a 

trade, 
Their needments to procure with cautious lore, — 
A shining gun, a knife with sharpest blade, 
A blanket with desir'd adornments made. 
Blue cloth to supersede their ancient dress, 
With silver ornaments to be displayed : 
But never, as they went, could they suppress 

The love of Onkuppee, great source of dii-e dis- 
tress. 

17. 
Seeing their wilder'd, heathen state with ruth. 
It was resolv'd by gen'rous men and good 
To offer them the light of heav'nly truth, 
By which to scatter superstition's brood, 
And lead them to the Saviour's cleansing blood. 
Beneath the academic shades of Yale 
Was found a Teacher of a noble mood. 
With purpose firm, that knew not how to quail, 

Content for Indian weal to toil till life should fail. 



30 VALE OP HOOSATUNNUK. 

18. 
O Sergeant ! In this wilderness obscure, 
Unknown to fame thj worth is greater far, 
And joys, which gather round thy heart, more 

pure. 
Than worth and joys of men renown'd in war, 
Enrich'd and honor 'd for each perilous scar : 
For pale-fac'd coward may rush into the fight 
Compell'd, — or titles dazzle from afar, — 
Or scent of blood may urge with foe in sight, — 
Or love for the high game may wake the hero's 

might. 

19. 
Self-conquest is the hardest vict'ry won. 
To level stubborn pride with mighty blow, 
Untir'd the race of charity to run 
Midst shame, ingratitude, and care, and woe, 
As rivers in rough channels ceaseless flow ; 
To imitate the God, who sits on high. 
And sends his rain on good and bad below, — 
This is far nobler — truth and reason cry — 
Than car of war to guide with eagle's fiery eye. 



CANTO I. 31 

20. 
Such humble bliss full many may despise 
And deem unfit to wake the minstrel's song ; 
But surely peace and joy are not the prize, 
That crowns the cares of proud and courtly throng. 
The mountain peak, glitt'ring with radiance strong 
And seen afar, is rock array'd in snow, 
While at its feet, in guise of freshness young, 
The garden lifts its sweet and gentle brow. 
And breathes the od'rous plants, which by the 
stream do grow. 

21. 

Were they estrang'd from bliss and dignity, — 
The poor and humble men, whom Jesus led 
Along the lowly vales of Galilee, 
Himself not having where to lay his head ? 
He on the poor his richest blessings shed ; 
To them glad tidings from above he brought 
Of life eternal, free from woe and dread. 
Then look not on the poor with scornful thought • 
Thou must in heart be poor, if heav'n is truly sought. 



32 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

22. 

At Wnahtukook there liv'd a worthy chief, 
To hear the Cliristiaii story well inclined, 
"Who, while he look'd on heathen rites with grief, 
Welcora'd the good man on his errand kind. 
Full soon the truth shed light upon his mind, 
And he was wash'd in laver undefiled. 
Nor Kunkapot alone did mercy find ; 
His daughter too was bless'd, — a lovely child. 
Like beauteous, fragrant flow'r, that springs in forest 

wild. 

23. 
Here liv'd in her sweet solitude the maid, 
Secluded in her nook by mountain's side. 
Save when, with journey soon perform'd, she 

strayed 
Where Hudson's noble river rolls bis tide, 
On which the white-wing'd vessels swiftly glide. 
Fraught with the riches of far distant lands, 
And where the fort of Albany defied 
Th' assaults of leagued French and Indian bands. 
And frowning guardian of the city proudly stands. 



CANTO I. 33 

24. 
As thriving vine in this retired vale 
Upon the river's banks spreads foliage fair, 
And climbs the elm, unshrinking from the gale, 
And hangs the purple clusters in the air ; 
So was her docile mind with pious care 
To high attainments train'd. She learn'd the 

lore 
Of near and ancient days ; and she did bear 
The fruits of mind and fruits of heart still more. 
For which her gladden'd teacher grateful -thanks did 
pour. 

25. 
Her cheek was not the white of driven snow, 
But, hke the glowing cloud of western sky, 
Ting'd with a blushing hue, as sun sinks low ; 
A chasten'd brightness gleam'd from her dark eye ; 
Her raven locks were parted gracefully 
Above her modest forehead, and behind 
Two pendent, glossy braids did softly lie, — 
As if to keep her tresses from the wind. 
Which revels in the curls, that no confinements bind. 
3 



34 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

26. 

A wampum belt compressed her mantle's fold ; 
Her moccasins, with hedge-hog quills inlaid 
Of various dye, her slender feet infold ; 
And these were all th' adornments of the maid. 
No silken drap'ry was around her spread ; 
No sun-born diamonds glitter'd on the sight ; 
Her gentle form in simplest guise arrayed, 
Her cheerful face beam'd forth serenely bright. 

With greater power to charm, than if with pearls 
bedight. 

27. 
And there was one, whom her sweet face did 

charm. 
Nay, gentle reader, in refinement bred 
Midst crowded city's pestilential calm, 
Think not, by erring prejudice misled. 
That love his nets has ne'er in forest spread. 
The wild wood-pigeon cooes his tender lay. 
Where native forests' boundless waves outspread — 
Nor with less soul, than bird with plumage gay 

Pouring his song in cage, from which he may not 
stray. 



CANTO I. 35 

28. 
The Indian youth, who sought Wunnissoo's love, 
Had been companion of her childish years ; 
His father's wigwam stood by walnut grove, 
O'er which the smoke its wreathed column rears. 
If Iloosatunnuk's vale to him appears 
With every charm and every grace arrayed, — 
Fairer than moon amid the starry spheres, — 
It was because the image of the maid 
Was mingled in his mind with stream, and grovo, 
and glade. 

29. 

Mohekun was a manly youth ; his eye 
Was keen as eagle's in his rapid flight, 
The distant game as quickly to descry. 
He sent the arrow with the speed of light, 
Nor fail'd the shining tube to aim aright ; 
The hatchet he could throw with guidance true ; 
In toils of chase he found a sweet delight ; 
The deer and forest game his skill might rue, 
And from each stream the crimson-spotted trout he 
drew. 



SG VALE OF IIOOSATUNNUK. 

30. 
Yet he was more tlian noble savage youth ; 
The good man's ceaseless care had form'd his 

mind 
To love of virtue and of sacred truth : 
By patient culture soften'd and refined, 
Religion's power had made him meek and kind. 
He lov'd God's holy book ; on his glad eye 
The light beam'd clear, while learning oft is blind, 
For reas'ning pride the truth will ne'er descry ; 
'Tis nought but heav'nly light, that guides man to 
the sky. 

31. 
Philosophy has toil'd, but toil'd in vain 
The erring steps to bring in virtue's way ; 
The furious passions heed not such weak rein 
As fitness, order, and the just array 
Of all related things ; we need the sway 
Of mighty arm to punish and to bless, — 
The threats, that carry to proud heart dismay, — 
The promises of endless happiness, — 
And love divine to melt our heart's strange stub- 
bornness. 



CANTO I, 37 

32. 
O bootless boast of vain philosophy 
From error's chain to disenthrall the mind, 
And wretched heart, enslav'd to sin, set free ! 
In Greece and Rome, by ev'ry art refined. 
Philosophy no idol-victim did unbind, 
Nor misplac'd prayer, from God withheld, set 

right. 
In France she fought a battle of the blind. 
And seem'd to triumph in the darksome fight ; 
But error never dies, till truth from heav'n shines 

bright. 

33. 
As in the gloom of night the thief knows well 
To creep along, like silent graveyard shade. 
And lustful paramour and assassin fell 
Do then both innocence and life invade ; 
So, when the blessed truth of lieav'n is stayed. 
And ignorance prevails, then error walks, 
And priestcraft plies its soul-destroying trade ; 
Then terrifying superstition stalks, 
Or atheism the aim of heav'nly mercy balks. 



88 VALE OP nOOSATUNNUK. 

3-1. 
Nor is the iaiiu of truth tiilliU\l by prido, 
Which, as it views the nations of the earth, 
Their stiii)id idol-worship n\ny deride, 
Yet linds at home of holy deeds a dearth. 
The name o( Cliristian is of little worth, 
And boast of light divine can nought avail, 
Unless, as Jesus taught, a heav'nly birth 
The wickedness of nature countervail, 
And love to God and man o'er selfishness prevail. 

85. 

All this Moheknn's heart had felt and known, 
For Sergeant, with a faithful pastor's caix?, 
Had preaeird lull oft of God's terrific throne. 
From which the blazing, vengeful lightnings 

glare. 
Smiting the wicked down to deep despair : 
And oft he preach'd the Saviour's wondrous love, 
As seen, when hanging on the cross in air, 
And by allurements sti'ong he often strove 
To guide into the path, that leads to heav'n above. 



CANTO I. 39 

36. 
Nor (lid the youth alone his path pursue : 
Among the travellers in the pleasant way 
Wunnissoo walk'd with cheerful heart and true, 
Her eye e'er fix'd on realms of endless day. 

* 'Tis therefore that 1 love thee,' — he would say, — 

* For surely, wert thou still in pagan gloom, 
Undeck'd with Christian virtue's sweet array, 
Unlit to join the blest in day of doom. 

Thy image fair should not within my heart find 
room/ 

37. 
Tliat there was then a fellowship of love 
Between the two will not awake surprise. 
Nor that by rites, which God and man approve. 
The two perchance were bound in strongest ties. 
Unbroken until one shall gain the skies. 
O, Milton ! Thou couldst sing of this sweet bond, 
When Eve and Adam walk'd in paradise ; 
But, like a priest estrang'd I'rom speech well 
connM, 
Thy practice to thy glorious song did not respond. 



•10 VALE OP HOOSATUNNUK. 

38. 
O, blessed union of devoted hearts, 
Of equal state and not discordant taste, 
Intent on good, which Christian faith imparts ! 
They gather joys e'en from the dreary waste 
Of care, and pain, and grief. Though time may 

haste 
To bear them far from life's short weal and woe ; 
Yet brighter visions, than by poet traced, 
As fairy scenes in his rapt vision grow, — 
Visions of heav'nly bliss do cheer them, as they go. 

39. 
But fancy's rapid wing should be restrained. 
Nor leave my slow-pac'd narrative behind ; — 
As yet this happy union is not gained, 
Although their hearts the bands of love do bind. 
Misled by hope, while to the future blind, 
How oft are phantoms to our eye displayed ? 
Then let me now resume with balanced mind 
My pleasant task, and sing with zeal allayed 
Of young Wunnissoo, Hoosatunnuk's lovely maid. 



CANTO I. 41 

40. 
Her fingers ne'er had toucli'd the flutt'ring keys 
Of costly instrument, nor strings of lyre ; 
Yet she could wake a melody to please, 
And charm the ear -with psalmist's holy fire. 
Let others listen to the numerous choir, 
Who pour the flood of harmony along ; — 
The strain of single voice is my desire, — 
A tender heart the prompter of the song, 

And truth and goodness flowing from a maiden's 
tongue. 

41. 
Oft with her holy notes of joy and praise 
The deepest solitude of woods would ring. 
As though a hidden thrush did pour her lays, 
Or robin in a grove did sweetly sing. 
O, solitude ! of blessed thoughts the spring. 
Thy artless, heart-sprung hymns are heard on 

high, 
While e'en the temple's labor'd oflfering, 
For man design'd, can never reach the sky : — 

In vain in ear of God is heartless minstrelsy. 



42 VALE OF HOOSATUNNTJK. 

42. 

Yet oft with others' notes her own were joined, 
When sympathetic flame of goodness blazed; 
But still 'twas worship of the heart and mind, 
Sincere, as when the first disciples gazed 
On form, soon on the cross to be upraised, 
And in a final hymn outpour'd their souls. 
Let not such simple hymning be dispraised 
By men, whom flute or yiol soft controls, 
For whom the wordless organ's tide of music rolls. 

43. 
Hers was a poet's soul ; yet idle strains, — 
Blending wild errors with the purest truth. 
Commingling fantasies of heathen brains 
With moral. Christian themes, as oft, in sooth, 
In far-fam'd modern bards we find with ruth, — 
She could not sing. Her teacher's prudent care 
Had warn'd her of this fault of giddy youth 
And older poets too. 'I will declare,' — 
He said, — ' the master's rules, which forra'd such 
minstrels rare ! 



CANTO I. 43 

44. 

* Invoke Apollo first, Latona's son, 
God of the vig'rous bow and sounding lyre, 
"Whose well-aim'd arrows sudden vict'ry won 
O'er serpent Python, fierce and breathing fire ; — 
Where fell the monster by his vengeful ire. 
There, on Parng,ssu5' hill, a temple rose, 
Sacred to him ; and there did he inspire 
The Pythian priestess in her raving throes. 
And utter'd Delphic oracles in verse and prose. 

45. 

' Next ask the Muses,' — Aonian Muses' aid, — 
Pierian Muses, — all the Sisters nine, 
"Who trip it lightly in Parnassian shade, 
Led by Apollo : see how they combine 
All lib'ral arts, that soften and refine. 
But chiefly poetry, of arts the first. 
Infusing in the soul the gift divine : 
They hold the springs, for which all poets thirst, 
And give the harmonies, which from the lyre do 
burst. 



44 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

46. 

* Speak of Pierian mount in Thessaly, — 
Of spring Pierian, gushing from the hill,— 
Nor less of Pindus' height, that seeks the sky, 
And fount of Pindus and inspiring rill ; — 
Castalia too, where poet drinks his fill : 
Forget not the Boeotian eminence, 

And Hehconian stream, that flows there still ; 
And ask to drink of all with thirst intense : 
tet dull bards seek the inspiration of good sense. 

47. 

* Ne'er speak of moon ; — say Cynthia rides her 

car. 
Or Luna or Diana shows her face ; 
For sun say Sol, or Phoebus from afar 
Beams on the world, revealing ev'ry grace ; 
Instead of spring Vertumnus must have place, 
Pomona's husband after much delay ; 
Or charming goddess Flora you may trace, 
Zephyrus' wife, whose wreathed flowers display 
Each beauteous form and all the varied hues of day 



CANTO I. 45 

48. 
* When yellow harvest makes the farmer glad, 
'Tis Ceres crowns the joyous, fruitful year ; 
When danger makes the storm-rock'd sailor sad, 
'Tis Neptune rages with his three-prong' d spear ; 
That warrior works the will of Mars is clear ; 
'Tis Juno sends the drizzling show'r from heaven, 
And Bacchus gives the tippler his good cheer ; 
When lightning gleams from clouds, by tempests 
driven. 
By bolt of Jupiter the gnarled oak is riven. 

49. 
' The Nymphs forget not, thousand Nymphs of sea 
And land ; the Dryads, that frequent the wood, 
And Oreads, that trip the mountains free ; 
The Naiads too, w4io love the solitude, 
Where fountains flow, or brooks in brawling mood ; 
The lovely Nereids in their ocean-cave. 
Where lawless foot ne'er ventures to intrude, — 
Nereids, whom sailors, when they tempt the wave. 
Beg to preserve from deep, cold, drear, and sunless 
grave. 



40 VALE OF IIOOSATUNNUK. 

50. 

* But last, not kiist, let Venus be addressed, — 
Goddess of smiles and beauty, queen of love, 
By all ill heav'n and all in earth caressed, 
With sacred claim to myrtle, rose, and dove ; 
Whose form the Grecian statuaries strove 

In vain to bring out from the marble pure ; — 
Venus, attended by the son of Jove, 
The winged Cupid, inftmt sly, demure, 
Whose shaft inflicts a wound, no medicine can cure, 

51. 

* Such seem the rules, to modern poets given ; 
And all this foUy and impiety 

Is sung by lips, which know the truth of heaven. 
The ancient Bards were honest. To their eye 
Bright gods appeared in ocean, earth, and sky. 
They woi*shipp'd whom they sung. But poets 

now 
Attune their harp to phantom of a lie. 
Shall truth, and sense, and reason cease to flow 
From hearts, which with sincere and holy fervors 

glow ? ' 



CANTO I. 47 

52. 

Mohekun from the bark of birch laid low, — 
What time the winged songsters fill the grove, — 
Had form'd a light canoe with double prow, 
Full swift along the silent lake to move, 
As new moon floats in azure sea above. 
The bark was laynch'd, and on the waters flung, 
When seated bj the maid, whom he did love, 
He struck the oar, and notes responsive rung. 
For thus with sweetest, warning voice Wunnissoo 



* I will sail, for the sky is now clear, 
And my bark longs to fly from this coast.' — 

But whither your course will you steer ? 
For the ocean is wide, and by tempests oft tost, 
And your shallop, unguided, in the deep may be 
lost. 

* I will steer for renown and for Fame, 
And proudly in harbor will ride.' 

Beware, lest you enter in shame, 
Like a bird, that is clipp'd of her feathers and pride, 
Your canvas blown off, and your masts by the side. 



48 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

* Then I'll aim at the land of Delight, 
Where joy o'er my senses shall play.' — 

Alas ! if the sirens in sight 
Shall draw you to shore, and charm by their 

lay, 
In the port of delight your life will they slay. 

' Then lofty ambition shall guide 
My shallop to harbor of Power.' — 

Know you not, that great perils betide ? 
'Tis a coast, where the tempests in fury do 

pour, 
And the wrecks lie along the high, rocky 
shore. 

* For the mart of the world I will sail, 
And come freighted with Silver and Gold.' — 

Deep loaded, your vessel will fail ; 
Then down you will go with your riches untold, 
And the caves of the deep all your treasures shall 
hold. 



CANTO I. 49 

< I will steer for bright Learning's fair land, 
Where the waves and the billows ne'er roll.' — 
You should know, there are corsairs at hand ; 
Thej may board, when a calm quells the pilot's 

control, 
And with sharp, bloody knife may pierce to your 
soul. 

* Then I'll steer for Domestic Repose, 
Where glisten the eyes of delight.' — 

'Tis well : but those eyes death may close, 
And no kindly emotion spring again from their 

light, 
While their beauty is lost in the grave's dreary 
night. 

Then away from earth's region depart, 
And steer for the Heaven of rest : 

Be the gospel your compass and chart ; 
Then no quicksands nor rocks your course shall 

arrest. 
And you'll enter the port,where Immortals are blest, 
4 



€^t Hole nf IBnnsattimmk. 



CANTO II. 



wrxxTssoo. 



rilK VAl.K OF llOOS-VrrNNlK. 



ovxro II. 



1. 

Vis tajik, that ncods of quenchless zeal the sway. 
Ou p{\gan mind truth's holy light to shed. 
And mistormM. grislv shapes to chase away, 
AVhioh in dark superstition's caves ;vre brt\i. 
And as they stalk along do terrors spread. 
Such wildVing shapes thronged Hoosatunnuk*s 

>-ale. 
And i\at\iT\^'s boasted children there misled. 
Yet Sergeant's real did o er the throng prevail 
By patient toil and prayer, whose power can never 

fail. 



54 TALE or noosAtrKNUK. 

Tluit gro[K^ in IhNathoM gloom thoir vVnibUul x«\y : 
Tli^T all tlK^ $\nH>to^t tk>$ of litt^ unbiud, 
And cj^^t iho putt^M $vmi\^ihio$ axnxv, 
Thu$ he, \cIk> held oVt Arrive chiot^ tho ;?xmv, 
^Vhott bont hfe conr$o *gain$t Prnm's loftj 

IHv* l>oautOiHJj: dawghtvr dul vrith $tx>jn^no;>^ ^lav. 
A oniol victim to tV inu^iuM iv>vfx?jr^ — 
FAir Ipliigewia in her bloonwng, gay^^me hour^ 

Hahit? of erinio and wiKlVii\g p,^^\ rito^ 
Ha\x^ l\x\l their ivhm$ deep in the ^j^iv^iije nui>d» 
The plea$5U\t tide, whieh eh>qnenoe indite.^. 
Of mjM\ of 2satuni> virt\h>n$» gentle, l^iinl, 
Ui^^haekW by hatvl lavf$» whieh others hiihl, 
AMth native gr^eo* Uk\^ nntrimmVl toT>c^t-grovx\ 
Who^e Rxliage vraxn?* in $wmmer :^ ^4>e$t xtiini — 
1$ hnt a xrvb of ^^lendVf^t gos*\»>ejr x«fov\^ : 
It will not lH^ar the K^ueh, whieh wv>uWi itj? textuw 
provw 



CANTO IT. »>0 

4. 

The deist, whom no truths rovonIM can ploaso. 
!M:\y boast of natnroV beams and reason's might. 
Like simple child, who thinks the sun might eoase 
To shine by day. when all the world is light. 
On Greek and Koman minds was there a blight. 
That they s;\w not what now, in sooth, is seen 
Without a ray from heav n f Was their sharp 

sight 
Than that of modem infidels less keen, 

That they of God eould not diseern the tbrm and 
mien ? 

5. 
'Mid western seas the coral isles were deemed 
Isles of the blest, where gentleness bore sway ; 
But truth on fiction's page at length hath gleamed. 
And foncied forms of good have Hed a^^ ay. 
Instead of these behold, in dread array, 
Each raging passion free from Tirtue's band. 
Tlie sacrifice of men to govls of clay. 
Slaughter of infiUits by a mothers hand. 

And ruthless wars, whose victims lie along the 
strand. 



56 VAI.K OF HOOSATUXNUK. 

6. 

Go, whore you will, tlmvjirh all tlii< wivlt^soroad 

sphere, 
Frv>m Greenland's ice-bound shore and hills of snow 
To southern PiWitgonia's coast most divar ; 
Pas^ with the sun o'er all he views below. — 
O'er At'ric's burning lone and Indij\'s glow. 
O'er :vll the beauteinis isles of e;vst and west, 
"VMiere verdure lives and fragnvnt breexes blow ; — 
Bring all men to religion s clean^^t tesit ; — 
All, without light from heav'n, are Wiuiderers un- 

blest, 

7. 
Ken in tlie plo;\s^\i\t vivle, of which 1 sing, 
Thoix^ w;\s a plentei^>us growth of sin, and feiur, 
And superstitious rites, which ahvavs spring, 
Wlierxj culture t;uls e;\ch heav'nly phwt to re^r. 
Though milvler w;is the ibnn of error here. 
Than oft is seen, where jvigan foUie^^ gn>w. 
Yet nought of peaceful worship did appear, 
And sacriticer's knife hiid victim low, — 
A proof of conscious guilt and dread of vengeful 

. blow. 



CAXTO II. 57 

8. 

As ouoo beheld, their rites did thus begin : — 
A rough, bark altar, plac'd on wigwam's floor, 
The flesh of deer as offering for sin, — 
The flesh with skin and horns, — in order bore. 
Dark faces round the gloomy cabin lower : 
Over the deer an aged priest then stood. 
And thus he pray'd — ' O. thou Almighty Power, 
We offer this to thee, the source of good. 

And pray thee guard us well, and give us sleep and 
food.' 

9. 
The prayer o'er, the priest then rais'd a shout, 
As if to wake the deity's dull ear : 
And next the boiled flesh was sery'd about. 
And all with joyful he^irts partook the cheer : 
A string of wampum was the fee of seer ; 
The skin and slejidex feet, which late were free. 
To widow given, drew a grateful tear ; — 
Thus nature taught these heathens, as we see. 

Though join d with absurd rites, the deed of 
charity. 



58 VALE OF IIOOSATUNXriv. 

10. 
Were this the whole, their worship well might 

shame 
The homage paid to countless gods of okl. 
To idol gods of high and humble name, 
Carv'd out of wood, and stone, and brass, and gold, 
And east, as fancy led, in various mould ; 
For here the tribute of the heart was paid 
To the Good Spirit, source of joys untold. 
Yet to the Evil Spirit prayer was made, 
With name o( ITobbamock or Mattandoo arrayed. 

11. 
Him would they worship not from love but fear. 
To avert impending ills, or to prevent 
Failure of game, as beaver, moose, and deer. 
Or wasting sickness, in his anger sent ; 
And, when beneath a dire disease they bent, 
A Powwow's sorceries were quick employed, — 
Powwow, the devil's priest and implement, — 
As though, by inciintations strange decoyed. 
Diseases would forsake the wretches, thev destroyed. 



CANTO 11. 59 

12. 

See, blazing high, the wigwam's central fire, 
While fiendish shapes dance round with antic 

gait. 
Led by the Powwow in his wild attire, — 
A bear-skin robe for gravity and state, 
With paws outstretch'd ; upon his head elate 
A solemn owl, while dangling from his ears 
Are snake-skins stuflTd. The minister of fate 
Now hoots and growls, and wakes terrific fears, 
Then throws into the flame the sacrifice, he bears. 

13. 

The dance, and shout, and maniac revelry, 
With prayer to Mattaudoo, and various spell 
Of dark, unutterable sorcery 
To curb the plague, or tide of war to quell, 
They deenvd fit homage to the prince of hell : 
From hira were sent the tempest and disease, 
And all the num'rous ills, which them befell ; 
It were then wise his pow'rful wrath t' appease, 
And worship pay, which might the angry Spirit 
please. 



60 VALE OF UOOSATIXXVK, 

14 

Wo pity suoh dolusKion, but poix^lianoc 
Delusion wilder still our minds may hold ; 
And eVn the ^vigjui yells iuid giddy diiuoe 
May sluime the Christian impious and bold. 
Who dares from Gt)d true worslup to withhold. 
If momiug*s glorious sun and evening's shade 
No honiagT? to Jehovnh shall untied 
In that great day, when secrets are disphmnl. 
Far more thiui pagans will such Christians bo dis- 
mayi>d. 

I said, the good man's ceaseless pray r and toil 

OVr wild'ring superstition did prevail. 

And yet to rvnise the serpent in his coil 

Was jH^rilous, The Powwow*s tnule would t^iil. 

The dupes Kn\oath his :u"ts would ooa>o tx> 

quaiU 
And much-lov'd n?ve.lry would ^xass away^ 
If truth should shine oi\ Hoos;\tunnuk*s \-ale. 
Hence mists at first obscured the heavenly ray ; 
Bui tliickest fl^ are scattered by the orb of day. 



CANTO II. 61 

An Indian Council \va^ oonvon'd, when now 
The teacher for himself a house would rear, 
If they his lasting settlement aUow% 
And with him a few friends, his lite to cheer, 
And them to guide in industry severe. — 
Did they the residence of whites desire ? 
And would they all the blessed g\>spel hear ? 
When gatherM round the blazing council-fire, 
A silver-headed man first rose and spake with ire : — 



17. 
* I am an aged hemlock ; and the winds 
Of fourscore winters throusrh mv bninches st roni!; 
Have whistled ; sickness now my strength un- 
binds. 
And I shall tiiU, like tree decay'd, ere long, 
Outj>ouring on the winds my dying song. 
Then, children ! hear ; — the Spirit great and good 
Hath White and Red men made : to us belong 
These lands ; to them the lands o'er big, salt tlood ; 
Then whereforo on our hunting-grounds do they 
intrude ? 



62 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

18. 

* They came, and from our fathers took their land ; 
We melted like the snow in warm, south wind ; 
Like deer we fled from white man's faithless hand ; 
But still they follow ; our retreat they find, 
And with their cheating words our eyes would blind. 
Children ! they want our lands, they want our 

game, 
Though here in narrow nook we live confined : 
Our sacred dance will cease, and Indian name 
Will soon be lost and dead, and Indian pride be 
shame ! * 

19. 
He ceas'd, and after silence due, for ne'er 
Does Red man interrupt another's speech, 
A dark-brow'd Prophet claim'd the Council's ear : 

* Brothers ! the Whites our ignorance would teach. 
And holy gospel they pretend to preach : 

But their own Book do they themselves obey ? 
Are robin's notes e'er heard in owl's wild screech ? 
Can they, who cheat, lead us in honest way ? 
Brothers ! beware, or to the wolf ye fall a prey. 



CANTO II. 63 

20. 
' Where once arose our fathers' wigwam's smoke, 
There now are cities, by the White men reared : 
The chain of friendship they have falsely broke, 
And old Mohegan rank has disappeared. 
Full soon our fathers' fate, though now unfeared. 
Will surely be our own, if we allow 
The White men here to come. The forests 

cleared, 
Our hunter's trade will cease, and we must bow 
Like women to the hoe, or White men to the 

plough. ' 

21. 
Then rose the Christian chief, and made reply : 
* Brothers ! in crooked path and darksome night 
I once did walk ; no light was in my eye ; 
But now my path is straight ; the sun shines bright ; 
The good Book shows my path ; it leads me right. 
Brothers ! the old Mohegan tree is dead. 
And fall'n ; gone is our fathers' val'rous might : 
Far from their sepulchres we hither fled, 
And now the numerous White men are around us 

spread. 



64 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

22. 

' Brothers ! when soon our game shall disappear, 
Where shall we find our children's needful food ? 
Now to my words attend with list'ning ear ; — 
"We have a pleasant vale ; our lands are good, 
On which we now bestow but culture rude ; 
The Spirit Great will have us learn to plough 
And sow ; let us obey with gratitude ; 
lie sends us too his Book, that we may know 
The path to heav'n above : in that path let us go. ' 

23. 
Reason prevail'd : when finished was debate, 
Th' assembly's voice, by Sachem's counsel 

sway'd, 
Welcom'd the Christian guide to happier state, 
While angry Powwows shrunk away dismayed. 
Foreseeing well the end of juggler's trade. 
Oh, when shall reason all such frauds untwine, 
And truth the Moslem prophet's gloom invade. 
And pour its flood of hope and bliss divine 
On ev'ry land, on which the glorious sun doth 
shine ? 



CANTO II. 60 

24. 
O, happy Indians, with such teacher blest ! 
Teacher of truth and not of fraudful tale, 
By monks invented in their idle nest. 
Ah, what do strange and monstrous lies avail, 
To cause the stern and wicked will to quail, 
Or touch the finer movements of the soul ? 
Fables in vain the love of sin assail, 
And aim the raging passions to control : 
For this the truth divine her pages must unroll. 

25. 
The simple truth of God he plainly taught 
In gentle accents and with ceaseless care ; 
But popish legends, with false marvels fraught. 
In wond'ring ear he wish'd not to declare ; — 
Such as the tale of English hermit Clare, 
By baffled lady doomed to assassin's blow, 
Whose sever'd head the headless trunk did 

bear. 
And plunge into a crystal fountain low, 
Then carried to his cell, before his life did flow ! 
5 



C6 VALE OF nOOSATUNNUK. 

26. 
Nor yet St. Dunstan's wondrous deed of fame, 
When tried, as others oft have tempted been, 
By Satan, hid beneath fair woman's frame ; 
When him the smiling face would draw to sin, 
The saint the rarest victory did win; — 
With red-hot tongs he seiz'd the pretty snout, 
And firmly held the demon, till the din 
Of his loud roaring was diffus'd about. 
And all the neighbors flock'd to see the merry rout !* 

27. 
Nor did he tell St. Ivo's tale aloud ;— 
The ghost requir'd an abbot to bestow 
On his neglected bones a burial proud, 
Who said — 'a cobbler's bones for aught I know ! 
His paleness yielding to indignant glow. 
The ghost return'd, and said with sternest 

air — 
* A cobbler I am call'd by thee ; and lo, 
A pair of boots I bring, which thou must wear 
In punishment of thy reproach for many a year ! ' 



CANTO II. 67 

28. 
When straight the spirit-cobbler seem'd to draw 
Upon his legs the boots with tort'ring strain, 
Then sunk away, as snow melts in a thaw. 
The abbot from that hour ne'er walk'd again ; 
A miracle, that brought the monks of Eamsey 

gain. 
Whether a vision or a real scene, 
A gouty abbot must endure much pain ; 
And boots like his, now worn, may oft be seen. 
By spirit too drawn on the swollen legs, I ween. 

29. 
'Tis dark and pitiable sight to see 
The Indian converts unto popery made, — 
When new succeeds to old idolatry. 
The heart by love of God and man unswayed, 
The life with Christian virtues unarrayed. — 
Six hundred such on eastern streams of Maine 
Still breathe the air : their ancient rank decayed, 
And nought acquir'd, they savages remain : 
In penury and sin they pass their days in pain. 



68 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

30. 

They long in Catholic church have been enrolled, 
And may at Rome be reckon'd converts blest. 
If such the converts, pompously extolled, 
By Jesuit zeal secur'd in east and west, — 
The boasted millions, who the cross confessed, — 
Converts untaught,undeck'd with virtue's mien, — 
I know not, that the pagan state unblest 
"Was chang'd to happier or to brighter scene, 

For empty Christian name from judgment cannot 
screen. 

31. 
The Hoosatunnuk Christians were not such ; 
But taught to read and think ; and from the page 
Of sacred writ of truth they learned much. 
Needful to guide the youth and cheer old age, 
Of powV the sharpest sorrows to assuage. 
And loftiest hopes to build up in the mind. 
Though all were not reclaim'd from passion's 

rage 
And to each good and virtuous deed inclined. 

Yet heav'nly light was shed on many of the blind. 



CANTO II. GO 

32. 
The Protestant boasts not a warmer zeal, 
Than sway'd the Jesuit bands, as forth they went. 
With politic design, where'er the wheel 
Of commerce rolls,— to western continent. 
Threading the northern wilds with hardiment, 
Where roaming savages pursued their game. 
Ascending stream of Paraguay, intent 
Midst southern boundless plains to rear a name,— 
Or to the farthest east Home's fables to proclaim. 

33. 
'Tis low and worthless zeal, if all designed 
A worldly scheme of pow'r and wealth to rear ; 
Hence pliant maxims, by no rules confined, 
And base betrayal of the truth severe. 
Such was the Jesuit teaching far and near ;— 
In China tol'rant to idolatry ; 
In Europe soothing titled guilt ; and here 
Urging the savage to his revelry. 
Kindling the wasting flame of war, which blaz'd on 
high. 



70 VALE OF UOOSATUNNUK. 

O-L 

A purer zeal biirn'd in the holy heart 
Of Eliot, faithful guide in upward way 
Of his dear Natick flock ; while to impai*t 
In their rude tongue the Book of heav'nly ray 
He toils with giant force from day to day. 
Till work unequall'd was completely wrought. 
A purer zeal the Mayhews did o'erswav, — 
Successive races of congenial thought, — 

Who on the Island- Vineyard num'i"ous Indians 
taught. 

35. 
The noblest charity, th' unchecked control 
Of purer zeal was, holy Bi*ainerd ! thine, — 
Of feeble frame but with an angel's soul. 
Too soon, alas, removM, in heav'n to shine. 
Such zeal was Wheelock's, whose enlarged design 
Would rear the teachers of the Indian wild : 
A School he planted, which like thriving vine 
Did n\pid grow, and in the desert smiled ; 

And Dartmouth's bow'i-s display his honors uiuio- 
tiled. 



CANTO 1 



71 



Woro tliose Rome's meivliants, (rnnu^kors for gain. 
Agents for despot, buiUlers of his tlnvno ? 
Oh no ; but tliev did \yA^s their (hiys in pain 
Ami eeaseh^ss toil from charity alone. 
Pitying the darkness, in which truth ne'er shone. 
Nor did they toil without a harvest fair, 
For wandoivrs to holy path wtuv won, 
Which the givat day, I doubt not, will declare, 
And show the noble zeal and perseveranee rare. 



I envy not the monarch's golden crown, 
Nor honors, which proud victor may receive ; 
Nov treacirrons tame like beauteous b\ibble blown, 
Nor transient joys, which gleam but to deceive, — 
No good o\^ texture such as spiders weave ; 
r>ut T couUl wish to bear in angels* sight 
The worth and majesty of men. who leave 
All earthly joys to spread the gospel light, 
And pour the rays of truth where all was gloomy 
night. 



72 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

88. 

Great fame hast thou, O Clive : on India's strand 

Winning great vict'ries o'er th' innum'rous foe, 

And building up for native, distant land 

A pow'r o'er dark-hued millions humbled low ; 

But eye of friendship sees on NewelFs brow 

And Hall's, good men, a more resplendent ray, — 

Who ran to heal the pitiable woe 

Of myriads, aliens from the blessed sway 

Of heav'nly truth, which guides to bright, immortal 
day. 

39. 
By such men's toils, though infidel deride, 
A holy, glorious kingdom will be reared, 
Spreading through all the earth its blessings wide. 
Then down will sink the throne with blood be- 
smeared, 
And sceptre will be wrench'd from despot feared. 
Each prison door will ope, and chains will fall, 
As when to Peter angel form appeared, — 
What time he lay fast bound a wretched thrall, — 

And bid him walk forth free from quaking prison 
wall. 



CANTO II. 73 

40. 
There spreads a rust on slav'ry's clanking chain, 
And weaker grow its hateful links each day, 
As truth and heav'nly love prevail. In vain 
Will pride, and lust, and avarice assay 
To hold o'er fellow mortals tyrant sway. 
When reign of charity shall wide extend, 
And senates shall be just. For this we pray. 
That tyrants may no more man's life-blood spend. 

Nor crouching slaves before proud masters lowly 
bend. 

41. 
Yet let not Parent- State reproach her child 
For practising the lessons, which she taught, 
And teaches still. By fraudful arts beguiled. 
Subdued by pow'r, or by her treasures bought, 
Holds she not slaves ? By barb'rous pressgangs 

caught. 
Her floating tow'rs bear many a slave along 
O'er the wide sea, while backward runs the thought 
To country's shore, to free and happy throng. 

To quietude of home, and phghted maiden's song. 



74 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

42. 

Has she not subject millions in the East, 
Slaves all except in name, by pow'r brought 

low. 
Bearers of burdens, like the caravan-beast? 
Let her but once freedom's loud clarion blow 
Through all her western isles, where fetters grow 
On ev'ry dark-hued limb ; let her first say, 
To those she holds in bondage and in woe, 
* Be free and happy ! ' Then indeed she may, 

Though blushing still, reprove her child, she led 
astray. 

43. 
Vain boast of liberty in either State ! 
All are not free ! Then let the good combine 
Their toils each bitter root to extirpate, 
That round the oak no fibre shall entwine 
Of pois'nous weed, or serpent-coiling vine, 
To check its growth and shrimp its ample shade. 
Let ev'ry chain be broke, whose links confine 
Body or mind ; let Clarksons rise to invade 

Tnvet'rate ignorance and sin, that both degrade. 



CANTO II. 75 

44. 
And truth and love will triumph at the day, 
Fix'd by decree, by prophecy foretold. 
E'en now we see the blessed, dawning ray, 
And hear the song of praise for joys untold 
From sun-burnt Afric's wide-spread sands of gold. 
From Ceylon's fragrant shade of cinn'mon grove, 
From India's sultry clime, and Greenland's cold, 
From western wilds, where savage Red men 
rove, 

And from far ocean's isles, where late fierce foemen 
strove. 

45. 
Ere long the glorious Sun of Righteousness 
Will fling abroad from clear, unclouded skies 
His beams on ev'ry land to cheer and bless : 
Idols will sink to dust, and all the lies, 
Of guilt the refuge, vanish from the eyes : 
From ev'ry tribe and tongue in sweet accord 
Ere long the universal shout shall rise, — 
* An end is come to reign of crime abhorred ; 

All kingdoms of the earth are kingdoms of our Lord ! ' 



76 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

46. 
Ah, what avails all philosophic pride 
And learned vanity to save the soul ? 
The courses of the stars may be descried, 
And laws resolv'd, by which e'en comets stroll, 
And elemental agents find control 
By human pow'r ; all objects we may name, 
And rank in circles, that in order roll ; — 
But, if we fail a heav'nward course to aim, 
Our wond'rous science is but ignorance and shame. 

47. 
Nature has charms ; yet idle seems the toil 
Of tedious monographs of useless plant. 
And sorting all th' incumbents of the soil 
For show of science, not for human want. 
Nature has forms the eye to charm, I grant ; 
Yet nobler study is the mind of man, — 
Wisely on kindred beings to descant. 
Their aims, and hopes, and joys, and griefs to 
scan. 
And learn to flee each fatal rock, on which they ran. 



CANTO II. 77 

48. 

Byron ! Idol of a giddy age, 

Thy secret fears and hopes fain would I know, 
As thou didst think of death. — ^'Tis from thy page 

1 learn thy aspirations were but low ; — 

Thou wouldst have eagle's pinions on thee grow 
To " cope with blast ! " Wouldst have an eagle's 

eye 
To gaze on glorious objects here below ! 
Wouldst be " a part '* of mountain, wave, and sky, 
Pitying the " worldly phlegm," that cannot soar so 
high! 

49. 
O genius of immortal man, how sunk ! 
When Tully thought of scenes beyond the grave. 
His spirit totter'd, as with rapture drunk. 
Hoping to meet the hosts of good and brave. 
To mingle in their joys, as wave with wave, 
While heaves the ocean of eternity ! 
The Christian too, whom Jesus died to save. 
Would dwell with God and all the blest on high. 
And share the bliss, that bursts from heaven's rapt 
minstrelsy ! 



78 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

50. 

Poor earthly poet, and blind, wand'ring Childe ! 
A friendless spirit on the mountain's height 
Content to be, or tost on ocean wild ! 
Vain wishes in a feeble, mortal wight, 
Destin'd before the throne of dazzling light 
To give a strict account of life's short race, 
Of reason's check, and passion's utmost might, 
Of ev'ry talent's use, and ev'ry grace, — 
And ev'ry stain, that heav'nly image doth efface. 

51. 
A lovely woman once did send a prayer. 
Pure as an angel's smile, to heav'n for thee ; 
And, Byron, thou didst feel her pious care, 
Reading her pray'r in pray'rless Italy, 
And saidst aright, — much rather thou wouldst be 
Object of such petition, than to shine 
As Homer, or as Csssar, gloriously. 
Yet, smoth'ring in thy lust the truth divine, 
Thou didst persist in wrong and build th' porten- 
tous line. 



CANTO II. 79 

52. 

Yet other bards as vile a web have spun, 
Glaring with images unfit to see : — 
Great Dryden such pollution did not shun, 
Nor from the taint are Cowley's numbers free, 
And thus e'en Pope has sinn'd egregiously. 
Curs'd be the strain, howe'er with genius fraught, 
Which would corrupt the youthful fancy's eye, 
And send contagion to the source of thought, 
Checking the heav'n-ward aim, by holy gospel 

taught. 

53. 
Yet there are English minstrels, from whose lyre 
No vile Anacreontic notes arise. 
Nor sullen gleams of fierce, demoniac fire, 
But all is pure, hke melody of the skies. 
Thus Cowper sung, — a name, that never dies, — 
And thus, congenial mind, Montgomery sings ; 
So Wordsworth's song comes forth in stainless 

guise, 
And others' song, whose lyre in mast'ry rings, 
Though weightiest truth ne'er strikes the deep- 
ton'd strings. 



80 VALE OP HOOSATUNNDK. 

54. 

From minstrers harp no sounds, which error bring, 
Should ever reach the charm'd and list'ning ear ; 
For bards are call'd divine, and they should sing 
The truth divine, which angels love to hear : 
Nor will the dread of scorn, nor melting tear, 
That bursts from gentle eye at thought of woe, 
E'er change the mighty master's hand severe, 
When call'd t' abase the proud and guilty brow, 
And bring by needful terror's notes the scorner low. 

55. 
And shall there be no woe in future world ? 
Was this the voice of Him, whose name is Truth, 
And who th' appalling flag of wrath unfurled. 
While yet his loving heart was fill'd with ruth ? 
Was this the voice of Him, in very sooth. 
Who o'er the guilty city shed his tears. 
Warning both hoary age and giddy youth. 
That, when the flaming day of doom appears, 
The awful word 'Depart' shall ring in sinner's 
ears? 



CANTO II. 81 

56. 
Has he, who cannot swerve, for our affright 
Built Mormos up before his children's eyes, 
And dealt denouncements idle, false, and light ? — 
'Tis true for guilty man the Saviour dies, — 
For all to make atoning sacrifice ; 
Yet on the unreclaim'd offender's head 
His expiating blood forever lies. 
The unbeliever is among the dead ; 
And deepest midnight gloom of wrath is o'er him 
spread. 

57. 
Is holy gospel blessed gift of love ? 
It is to them, who make its good their choice, 
And yield their hearts to influence from above. 
It is indeed a spring of heav'nly joys, — 
A rain, which makes the thirsty earth rejoice. 
But though the cloud rich show'rs of blessings 

bear, 
The blessings fall amidst terrific voice 
Of angry thunder, and amidst the glare 
And flashes of consuming bolts, which none may dare. 
6 



82 VALE OF nOOSATUNNUK. 

58. 
With untamed spirit may new bards arise ; — 
Not om'nous meteors, shooting wide dismay, 
Nor, like archangel fallen from the skies, 
Winging o'er chaos their advent'rous way. 
On mischief bent ; but clad in bright array 
Of truth and love, poets, that touch high strains. 
Which well th' imperishable mind should sway, — 
The law of holiness, the fiery pains 
Of sin, and good man's blest reward, which God 

ordains. 

59. 
Wunnissoo lov'd all Nature's varying shapes, — 
The bubbling spring beneath the pine tree's 

shade, — 
The gliding brook, which in the grass escapes, — 
The winding stream, the meadow, and the glade. 
She climb'd the jutting cliff, yet undismayed : 
The deep blue sky was ocean of delight ; 
A joy sublime her lofty mind o'erswayed, 
When angry tempest chang'd the day to night. 
And from the clouds there burst the streams and 

floods of Hght. 



CANTO II. 83 

60. 
In the wide forest's awful solitude, 
In its deep shade, excluding noonday beam, 
She lov'd to stray in meditative mood ; 
And here her mind with solemn thoughts would 

teem. 
And bright irradiations round her gleam. 
So in Dodona's wood, in ancient days. 
Where flow'd beneath old oaks the gentle stream. 
The torch unlighted, — classic fable says, — 

Brought to the pool, would straight be kindled to a 
blaze. 

61. 
But nature gave her joy, because each scene 
Awaken'd visions of still brighter hue. 
She thought of Him, now thron'd in world unseen. 
That once as man appear'd to human view 
To bear correction to our wand'rings due. 
Whose pow'r spread out all glories to the eye ; — 
Of Him, whose love to her seem'd fresh and new 
By ev'ry beauteous form in earth or sky, 

And all the grandeur floating round most gloriously. 



64 VALE OF HOOSATOfXUK. 

62. 

* Bright, circling Sti»is T sho >;"»ui * hi^rli o\ r my 

head. 
Seeming to form, and thei>e&re nam'd a " crown, " 
With still more glorious wreath is He arrayed. 
Who once from higher world to earth came down. 
And died for sins in agonies unknown ; 
Died for our sms, that we might ever shine 
Bright as yon stars, o'er heav'n's expansion sti\">wn. 
Then, Christian, let the crown, foi>eiold as thine. 
Turn thee from vain pursuits to seek the bliss divine.* 

The yellow leaf of autumn on the ground 
Is hid beneath the white and mantling snow : 
The streams in icy fetters now are bound. 
Or glide beneath the crystal, clo^gM and slow ; 
Yet joy from clieeriul heart fails not to flow. 
'Tw:\s now that blessed period of the pear, 
Wlien Son of God from heaven descended low 
In majesty of virtue to appear ; 
Wlien thus the maid did meditate :> ... ...... w./u 

eluvr : — 



CANTO II. 85 

G4. 
Th' uneqiiall'd bard, who sang of Paradise 
Lost by the rebel act of parent-man, 
And then restored by Ilim, who left the skies, 
Has hymn'd his natal day, when quick He ran 
To execute the high, mysterious plan. 
I too would sing his birth in praises meet, 
Bringing such grateful present, as I can, 
And lay my off 'ring at the Saviours feet ; 
And Mary's Son an Indian of the west would greet. 

HYMN 

ox THE NATIVITY .OP CUKIST. 

It was a peaceful night, 

And stars were beaming bright, 

And Judah's fertile vales and fields were still ; 
"While weary men now sleep, 
Their watch the shepherd's keep 

O'er many a flock round Bethlehem's honor'd 
hill. 
As God with more than shepherd's cave 
Watches the starry flocks and hosts of eai'th and air. 



86 VALE OP HOOSATUNNUK. 

When lo, an unknown star 
Its radiance pours afar, 

And in the east attracts their gazing eye ; 
And then a flood of light 
O'erwhelms their giddy sight, 

And heav'nly seraph stands resplendent nigh ; 
He comes the messenger of love 
To speak to man of wonders ne'er announc'd 
above. 

As fear the shepherds strook, 
He cheer'd them with his look, 

And mildly thus he did their ears accost ; — ' 
< Behold, glad news I bring 
Of Israel's Shepherd-King, — 

Tidings of joy to you and all the lost. 
The world's great Light beams forth this mom, 
For Christ, the virgin's Son, in Bethlehem is 
born. 

* The babe a manger holds. 
And swaddling band infolds ; 



CANTO II. 87 

Yet comes that child the ruin'd world to 
save ; — 
His voice the storm shall quell, 
And chase the pow'rs of hell, 

And wake the sleeping tenants of the grave ; — 
His voice, when earth has run his race. 
Shall bid earth's millions to their final dwelling- 
place/ — 

Thus spake the angel fair, 
When straight through all the air 

Were seen the countless hosts of seraphs 
bright ; — 
Each golden harp rings clear, 
Sweet notes entrance the ear, — 

The notes of joy and melody of light : 
Such strains ne'er fill'd the heav'nly arch, 
Not e'en when all yon flaming worlds began 
their march. 

'Tis heaven's new Song of Love, 
That wakes those strains above. 



88 VALE OF nOOSATUNNUK. 

And from the angel-Hps now bursts again ; 
It sounds through all the sky, — 
* Glory to God on high, 

Peace on the warring earth, good-will to men ! 
For God now dwells with man below 
To cause the guilty soul with seraph's love to 
glow.' 

My Saviour and my God, 
Who on this globe hast trod, 

Though million orbs of day for thee are gleam- 
ing! 
My fetter'd soul set free, 
And teach the minstrelsy, 

The rescued sinner's burning heart beseeming ; 
Then will I strike my harp of gold, 
And sing thy grace, and love, and pow'r for years 
untold ! 



lit flnlE nf I3nnsntnnmtk. 



CANTO iir. 



WUNNISSOO, 



THE VALE OF IIOOSATUNNUK. 



CANTO III. 



1. 

In Iloosatnnnuk's Vale from day to day- 
Was rudeness cliang'd to social polity : 
Where late the forest's gloomy shadows lay, 
There busy, beauteous village one might see, 
Where white and red men liv'd in amity. 
By roving hunter arts of peace were known ; 
He till'd his fields ; he planted fruitful tree ; 
Unchimney'd, smoky wigwam was o'erthrown, 
And comfortable house he proudly call'd his own. 



92 VALE OF nOOSATUNNUK. 

2. 

Such dwelling young Moliekun had upreared 
In little garden by green hillock's side, 
To which, what time the flow'rs of spring appeared, 
He led Wunnissoo as his chosen bride, 
Wlien long delay his loyal heart had tried. 
It was a gladsome hour to all the vale 
To see the youth and maid in bonds allied, 
So strong, that nought their strength could counter- 
vail. 

Save death, before whose pow'r all mortal things 
must quail. 

3. 
Here liv'd the virtuous pair in humble guise. 
But with the light of truth and calm of love, 
With peace and purest bliss below the skies. 
And hope of endless bliss the skies above. 
All savage traits of soul effac'd, they strove 
Each holy. Christian duty to fulfil. 
With purpose firm, which nothing should remove. 
Both toil'd in proper sphere with ready will, 

As constant flows the stream, unruflled, clear, and 
still. 



CANTO III. 93 

4. 
Her hands would pluck of maize the soft, young 

ear, 
And strip its folded drapery away. 
Till white, like disrob'd babe, the corn appear ; 
Then from the climbing vine, with blossoms gay, — 
The fruit and blossoms mix'd in glad array,— 
Would pick the tender bean-pods long and green, 
In shape like scimitar, which Turks display, 
Swelling with rip'ning lobe most gladly seen 
By ev'ry Indian forest-dweller, as I ween. 

5. 
The corn and beans combin'd she knew to boil. 
And thus delicious nutriment prepare, — 
The Suckatash,— the growth of Indian soil, 
Hunger's revelry, solacer of care. 
For this an Indian relish I do bear, 
And deem it unsurpass'd by foreign cook. 
Working on aliments most dear and rare. 
With this and crimson-spotted trout from brook. 
On kingly table none need cast an envious look. 



94 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

6. 

But ne'er was table spread with earthly fruit, 
Derived from field or garden, or with game, 
Procur'd in vacant hour, of fish or brute. 
Without the praise of God, from whom they came. 
Then let th' insensate man be cloth'd with shame, 
Who sits down to luxurious, costly feast 
In princely hall, and yet no grateful flame 
Ascends ; who like the head-declined beast 
Partakes the food, all sense of gratitude surceased. 

7. 

Each night and morn was read the holy Book, 
And cheerful hymn was sung with melody. 
And humble pray'r addressed, with reverent look, 
To God, whose throne is in the lofty sky. 
Yet who to household worshipper is nigh. — 
How welcome always was the day of rest. 
When, earthly cares and earthly thoughts laid by. 
They walk'd up to God's house, with awe imprest. 
To join the common praise, and hear the doctrine 
blest? 



CANTO III. 95 

8. 

Thus now iu those far islands of the west, 
Where late the homage was to idols paid 
With (.Tiiol rites and sorceries imblest, 
Pure oflTings to the living God ai-e made 
In thronged temple and domestic shade, — 
Shaming the proud and polish'd infidel, 
Within whose mansion, sumptuously arrayed, 
No notes of pray'r and praise do ever swell, 

And nought of Christian peace and hope delights to 
dweU. 

9. 
But chiefly did their hearts with joy o'erflow, 
When, at the table of their Lord, they ate 
The bread and wine, memorials of His woe, 
Who died God's broken law to vindicate, 
And bear up justice in unsullied state ; 
And emblems too of that celestial food, 
By faith receiv'd, which mind and heart can 

sate. 
What peace, and hope, and love, and gratitude 

They felt is all unknown by strangers to their 
mood. 



96 VAl.K OV UOOS.VYl NNl K. 

10, 
They envied iwl Uie mcaiarch*s costly i^t, 
His h\bJo coverM o'er with jxhxto of goUl, 
Loaded with vimub !i\mu tho wxvst ju\d oi^^t. 
And divkM with sploiuW dAXAlin^ to lH?hold. 
How ot\ at $uoh i\ fi^ast^ a$ onot) of old> 
The diKnttl\\l writiuij ghuvj* mvMi tlio oyt\ — 
When down tho j>agviu\t .<iuks ? But jov^ uuh>ld 
Cheer evVy humble heart, wheii Chrisi ij^ «igh» — 
Master of il^iisl below, sure guide to heav^i oji high. 

Moons roUM away mid household ean>s m\d joy 5 
Aud when at last, as high and priceless dowor, 
lilohekun lioaivl the voice <\f iutaut Ihu% 
His heart wj\s thriUM with blis^ uufelt iH^Kvre^ 
Aiid tide of jmuse to God he did outpour. 
I iway wot speak the jKUxnits* hoiK> and tear, 
TThen g^utiivg on that infant of an hour, 
Yet deiitiuM to outrun the sun*s career. 
And Vu-t^ when \\\M*lds shiUl Ih> in yellow leat* iuid 
sere. 



CANTO III. 97 

12. 

That helpless frame is tenanted by soul 
Immortal in its nature. That soft eye, 
That seems, unkindled by a thought, to roll. 
Will soon bo lighted with reflection high 
And all the strongest passions* radiancy : 
That tongue will speak th' emotions of the breast . 
But more than all, that mind, — dread destiny 1 — 
Deprav'd, will sink where wrathful waves ne'er 
rest, 
Or, stamp'd with good, ascend and be forever blest 

18. 
'Tis parents* work to train in heavenly path, 
From which th' accustom'd feet shall never stray : 
The faithful discipline is blest ; but wrath 
Shall strike the slothful in the linal day. 
Oh, parents ! who can paint your grim dismay. 
If then your child through your neglect be lost, 
And you, unsav'd, to agony a prey, 
On the same fiery billows should be tost. 
Finding, alas, how much your slothfulness has cost? 
7 



98 VJLLK OF UOOSAIUXXUK. 

Yot $tubl>om will with ro^oluto anu to i^uoU 
And nuiko oIkxUohoo suro ; to clicok tUo tido 
Of early pas^koi, break delusion-s $pixU, 
Sclt»lovx5 to curb, awd humble budding jvrlde. 
And teach the gospel titith, which men deride ; 
^Vith mingled awe and lovx? to rule, deny, 
Kv strain, and in each pious path to guide, 
^V^U constant prayV to Ilim, w*ho roigi\s on 
higil, — 
Is arduous work, but worft I^t^ar'd for eternity ! 

The prcRidest piles on this poor, earthly ball 
Slvall crumble into dust, by time o" erthwvm : 
St, Peter's glorious churvh at Rome shall fall, 
As other idol temples have sunk down ; 
The mighty m<muments of Nile shall own 
Decay's sutxj law ; but miiul, when built aright, 
NeV sinks ; ai\d he, who builds, and he alvM\e 
Has rearM a holy tompUs fair and brigl\t, 
De^tinW tx) stainl R\txi Vr in hoiiv Vs eternal lidxt ? 



CANTO 111. 99 

IG. 
These Indian ptironts train'd tlicir lovely boy 
For Gtxi and henv'n, and with unchanging aim 
A chanictor io term without alloy, 
Of motive right and action without blame. 
A higher principle, than dread of shame, 
Or hope of man's applause, it was their care 
T infuse into his heart ; — a holy llame 
Of love to Gtkl and man, devotion nire. 
And aspii-ation after bliss, which angels share, 

17. 

On passion's first outbreakings they impose 
A wise and strong restraint with utmost care ; 
As he, who dwells, where Mississippi flows. 
Watches the slightest current, which may dare 
To civss the safeguard mount upheaved there, 
And instant checks th* encroachment, when de- 
scried. 
For by delay the streamlet soon doth wear 
A broad, deep channel growing still more wide, 
Till all his fields are whelm'd beneath the Wuiuiless 
tide. 



100 YALK OF IIOO^ATl^MK. 

'Xis vriso to crush tlio shell of cockatrico^ 
Kit? it is hatchVi bj hoiit of summer's sun. 
Thou why should iufhut iuigi>r, avaric**. 
And pride bo tx>stord ? Is it wisely done 
Tb spare the se.ri>e«t> till his strength is won ? 
The petty ra^ may please thy sporting mooii 
But nvge iudulgM is murvlor just begun ; 
Tlie anu nncheok'd n\ay strike at la*t tor Wvxxl, 
All blessed pi\)mise witherM and ejrtinct all good. 

1^ 

Honor w»s not ai\ idol to be adonnl 
With loss of pe^ee ai\d saerifioe of blood ; 
"But Waunseot know, taught by the sacred word. 
That law divine was measuro of all good. 
jVi\d therotoro that, with courage unsuMuoil, 
He should pursue the straight and narr\>w \>-jiy. 
And bear each transient ill witli fortitude. 
It w;\s glad sight to see the youth obi\v 
>Titli cheerful heart the rules, whicli guivle to heav'n's 
bright day. 



CANTO III. 101 

20. 
O, happy child, in rural village born, 
Nurtur'd in truth, where nature gives delight ! 
O'er oastorn hills he sees the streaks of morn 
In splendor grow, till highest heav'n is bright ; — 
On sti\3am, mead, grove, and lake, with raptured 

sight. 
He gazes, taught in all things to behold 
The pow'r and love of Him, who dwells in light ; 
And train'd, with ready feet and courage bold, 
To walk in virtue's path and gain her joys untold. 

21. 
To man, who, like rrometheus, is fast bound. 
At least in heart and soul, to flinty rock, 
'Tis joyful, when the gem-fraught stone is found. 
To give the milk-white quartz the hammer's shock, 
As, Vulcan-like, I've hammer'd on the block. 
And see the beryl pour its hues of green, — 
Emblem of hope, which failures oft bemock, — 
Or dyes both green and red of tourmaline. 
With Cleavelandite allied, though brittle, pure and 
sheen. 



103 VALE OF HOOaATVNNUK. 

So once I gather\i Amethystine forms 

On "White Hills* side, \?hich rear aloft subHme 

Their snow-ci\>wn\l heads, the chosen home of 

storms, 
0*ertopping all the mounts of oowntry*s clime } 
*Twas near the dwelling* which, in recent time. 
By thundVing masses ftvm the mountain's side 
Was overwhelmM, whose inmates, in the prime 
Of manhood, and their childi'en dear all died, 
Swept, as they fled, and caiishM by rooky torr^nt*^ 
tide. 

Tis joytiU to the man, >vho fragi^ance breathes. 
And beai-s a roseate gai-land on his bivw. 
And wild-flow'r for his cabinet inwivathes, — 
To him the fairest maiden here below, — 
To cJi-eep in bushy vale, wheiv bixxxklets flow, 
Oi- climb the mountain's persons, giddy height, 
E*en to the borders of eternal snow ; 
If there a new flowV meet his eager sight. 
He seizes quick the spoil, ho t>els miknown delight. 



Wilhiu mv miiul is ilooply i\\i»:istoiHHl 
Tlio |>1hoo» whoiv miuriwis pUuits i\vM gtivo mo 
vhoor : 

AVhoso i\H>t to (Iniioso nppotito is iloar, 
Aiul \vho»t\ in Htu^p (\u»iuliau toi\^st itivnr, 
Tlio Snrmronia s;lo\v\l in piirplo \m\\<\ 
NixUliuy: iu Uitlo swamp, of \vo(Hl-«;i\»\vth olcm*, 
'Wluv'io ovip-liko !onvt>s, tv> oaston\ plant niruvl, 
Mny >Yan\ oaohtopor, — i\\\\\ wuh sippini;- tlios, who 
ilioil. 

To men, like Kirby» witli tvuo m>al lm!tH>i1» 
AVhoiw iivsoot tiu'ms iuspiiv with koou iloUglit, 
Whom wamrriu*? buttortliov'i by via y misU>ail, 
Ami ilniw thivugh many a lH>ii\ «?* wizaixl light 
Mij^uulos tho tomptovl travMlor h\ tho night, 
*Tisk glmlsivmo io tM»tau:';lo iu small not 
Svuuo IuhhUoss nu>lh, with spiiUi^UHl wini^s aiul 

Wight, 
Or iWiw ilocu) ing log ar stump o*wsot 
Vo i-atoh tho trih.\'<. that v\u<h. in thoir rotivai lu-sot. 



104 VALE OF HOOSATIJNNUK. 

26. 
'Tis joyful to the man, who converse holds 
With wandering planets in the sky serene, 
Or fixed stars, which tube uprear'd unfolds, 
To catch a raj from orb before unseen, 
To bear thenceforth his honorM name^ I ween, 
As fitlier meed for him, than for his king ; 
Or peep into th* immense, far worlds between. 
And there discern new systems on the wing, 
And thence in depths of space new worlds imagining. 

27. 

But sweeter, purer, higher is the joy, 
From deep inquiry in the book divine 
To gain the gem, which beams without alloy, — 
The gem of truth ; or round the brow to twine 
Blossoms of virtue, which unwith*ring shine ; 
Or in the cab 'net of the heart to place 
The forms of goodness in their proper shrine ; 
Or with heav*n-piercing vision well to trace 
The throne of Him, who reigns o'er worlds in bound- 
less space. 



CAXTO III. 10'> 

Sdeotce is dwMliiig do\n\ into Uie art 
Of marshalling whau^Vr the eye behold?!, 
Araanging in due plact> each whole aad i>art, 
The moral aim imseoi, which jUI intolds : — 
lake soldiers, whom our green parade now holds, 
The dousthtr heroes, spread upon the plain, 
ArrangM in line, but whom no skill iml^dds. 
Untaught ihe use of anus, which vietVy gain, 
The idle boast of him, who rules th* accoutred t^rak. 







29. 






Yr 






1\ sttmes 


pursue 


t:,. 






-lor shall 


arise 


lo ; 


.wiv : 




. .vl^„.V . 


"!--o 


Soi 


in ilu 






.ves 


Idlv 


• distvrn'd. 


the modem 


s.; ,, .;, - 


ries! 


Th 








roU 



In their n > ; hrough the ajture skies. 

Tracing thai tbrm, howe'er they seem to stroll. 



106 VALK OF HOOSJLTrXXOv. 

Six 
S, .*h*d chomi^^ issTst ill $^>*wh ctf goM, 

But >Tsdnlj K^rd ilie m^s^Yr to tmfi)UL 
Yet by hfe toiU fe bU«» of $ci»ic« &EHM\i 
And lat<»r $?ji^^ extracts db^x^vVr gT«nd» 
As «il Akpldm^'s loudi tb« Get\)u$ cMxie^ 
Skre of Ae kn^ $ so now* in D^tt $ bui^ 
Boond buBoqi more ^mndrtms^ i))ck^'i$ ;ji bhie Hum; 
Tfe tre-bbst^'— cAT^acn spirit, $fcivx^ .<ubdtted wd 

51. 

Oti nKMmt^ top. bv ' 

KMoix^ ! tlKHi dojt T : ; 

GJows IKA thy beauixXHis che^jk wiih IV. 

Tl^jp^lf to t^iOw Hfe pi^\ » Fir^ Fsdr, First 

VJMtt Idol ! this ihY foUv ihvui slwh mo ! 

A' — .-■ • . ^ -^ •. • •-, -Axl- 



AihI All thy bcAuty^s l^t shAll t«n\ to v.. 



CAKTO lU. 107 

Si. 
I do not low tho city*s prison itralK 
Tho nam>w space Ivgirt with hriok su\d stooo, 
Tho s^^Msh civ^wvi, which timid heart apivUs ; 
But I >vould w^alk in lieM ;ukI grovx> :Uono ; 
Or lay me down where cxyst^U waters motui. 
As geiitJy o*er their ]Lvbbly Ih\1 they ilow ; 
Or stauvi upon the mountivin's rock-built thtvmo, 
Gajting on all the outspread scene below. 
While glorious, kindling thought? within my bosom 
glow. 

But who shall paint the pleasuK^ ercr new. 
With which our changing se;\soi^ e*er abound ? 
The flakes of wintry snow fall solV, Kke dew ; 
Or, when ihe sleety tempest raves around. 
Both ivace luni joy by cheerful fire ar>e found. — 
And then the light of fnll-orb*d moon, like day, 
Gleams on the silver vestment of the ground 
In calmest eve ; or northern streamers play 
Their wondious finoKcs in their pure and bright 
array. 



108 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

34. 
When spring returns, and southern breezes blow ; 
When warmer suns arise and rains descend, 
And melt away at once th' incumbent snow ; 
Then from the mountain's side, where forests 

bend, 
The torrent comes with thund'ring sound to wend 
Its foaming, furious way through valley wide, 
With giant force, no obstacle can fend, 
Bearing along, with mighty victor's pride, 
Uprooted trees and icy masses in its tide. 

35. 
So, Niagara ! down the depth profound 
Plunges thy broad and brightly-gleaming flood, 
Fed by vast lakes, in symbol-union bound. 
On Table Rock, now fall'n, in youth I stood, 
Gazing on all the scene in rapt'rous mood. 
There, at my level, the majestic stream 
O'er long-curv'd cliff, with ample plenitude, 
Begins its stoop in reg'lar, bending gleam ; 
Then falls, till shape is lost in foam and misty 
steam. 



CANTO III. 109 

PerchM on thin leaf of overhanging rock, 
I venture to the edge and look below ; 
I see the eddying depth ; and feel the shock, 
The shoi'e all ti*embling at the earthquake-blow. 
Ah, what if sudden dizziness should grow. 
As, at Passaic cliif, in her, who fell ? 
Or what if shock my foothold-ledge o'erthrow. 
And to abyss I sink with loosen'd shell ? — 
The solit^/s fate no living one could tell. 

37. 
But, though no brother man with me did stand, 
Yet God was there, who scoop'd the basin wide. 
And pour d the flood out from his hollow hand. 
Yet God was there, whose voice on ev'ry side 
Issued in thunders from the angry tide. 
Yet Grod was there, the cloud-buUt arch to rear, 
With mingled hues of beauteous brightness 

dyed, — 
Symbol, once caus'd o'er wider flood t' appear. 
Blest pledge of earth's escape from destiny severe. 



110 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

38. 

Stand liere, mortal presumptuous ! and say, — 
While ear is stunn'd with torrent's ceaseless roar, 
And solid rocks do tremble with dismay, — 
Cannot God's hand the flood of vengeance pour, 
To sweep the proud, where they will boast no 

more? 
Let warring tribes this voice of thunder hear, 
And hush their rage, lest whirlpool wrath devour ! 
Christian ! the bow of promise shines forth clear, 
And thou mayst smile secure, when earth shall 
quake with fear. 

39. 
When quiet flood or lake outspread and wide 

Is cloth'd with crystal in the clear, cold night. 

How joyous o'er the glassy deep to glide 

As with the wings and speed of angels bright ? 

But, youngster, then beware, lest rapid flight 

Bear thee incautious to th' unfrozen wave, 

And thou, evanish'd quick from human sight, 

Descendest where no friendly hand can save, 

Finding amidst thy joy a sudden, wat'ry grave. 



CANTO III. Ill 

40. 
All then what grief is felt, what tears are shed 
By doating parents in their failing day, 
"With snows of winter on their weary head ? 
And what can sister's anguish now allay, 
Companion of her childhood torn away. 
With sudden wrench, from all in life most dear ? 
Then to thy path let prudence lend its ray ; 
Yet still this true and needful lesson hear, — 

'Tis Grod thy bounds has fix'd, and aims death's 
fatal spear. 

41. 
The ling'ring breath of winter wholly fled, 
The earth is cloth'd with flow'rs and living green, 
And song of birds from tree is carolled. 
While frisking lambs in sunny fields are seen, 
And all the air is soft, and sky serene. 
Then let the heart o'erflow with gratitude 
To Him, who spreads out all this lovely scene ; 
And let the soul ascend in pious mood 

To God, the fuU spring-head of all, that's fair and 
good. 



112 VALE OF llOOSATUXXUK. 

-I-:. 

Suinmor siioceod:?, when yellow harvests wave, 
And various truits hang tempting fivrn the tive. 
Gk)d gives to iill what appetite may crave : — 
Berries to binls, who sing so merrily. 
Of nuts a store to squirrel brisk and free. 
To fish the insect danehig on the stream. 
And flow'i^bred honey to the toiHng boo. 
Then shine, yo rich, with charitable gleam. 
And cause in widow's eye the priceless tear to beam. 

43. 

The autumn forest glows upon the ejre 
In tints, wliich shame the summers sober green ; 
The oak in russet, beecli in j'ellow dye. 
And maple's crimson glory deck the scene, 
AVith all the intermingled shades between. 
Thus glei\ms the year, ere gai*b of white is spread, 
As in the face of dying man are seen 
His last, stix>ng feelings, ere bo lays his head, 
Where tUl em'th's bright and glorious images ju-q 
tied. 



CANTO m. iio 

41. 
Waunscot grew up in nature's loveliest vale, 
And all was gladd'ning to his eye and ear. 
But, as sweet earthly pleasures soon must fail. 
And darkness will o'erspread all brightness here, 
He oft was urg'd to look beyond earth's sphere 
And seek the glories of eternity 
By all, that answers hope, or wakens fear, — 
By dread of God's just indignation high, 
And hope of joys iuefiable in yonder sky. 

45. 

Much have I seen of what the world may show 
To cheat the vision of the human child : — 
Gray, youthful hopes, which in the spring do blow, 
But wither'd soon, like flow'r on eastern wild ; — 
Sweet, earthly joys, which for a moment smiled. 
Then fled, like meteor darting through the sky ; — 
Ambitious honors, soon by envy soiled ; 
The monarch's sceptre yielded with a sigh. 
And all the bliss of earth quick fading from the 
eye. 
8 



VALB OF HOO&JLTINMK. 

hi T*in tl.<> wrt toU $lwUl sar, o'orwholm'.^ ^^ ^ ^ 

<I haTv be<m Wt?*i b<»TxMui tho c\vi\\i\hm\ jk^t. 
Ami fioughl otVluu^^^ thk boa$t ojm oxvnhtv>w ! * 
How Kx>U<v$$ i$ the iHV^t, vrhin\ C5W\>$ Ai\t\oy, 
And pix?*^«t j>jun§ ix^moiul>cr d Wfe* dc^tix^y ? 
!>><>$ iKeawn"* gtvjit out<^t, in th^ fiorv J<h^(\ 
By thougtxt v\f Wi$$» vf hioh vMKH* bo iUv! 04\iov, 

Or quell til* ttttdjiug\KvMw$« vrMch m his Uivasj vlo 

47- 
Tr<> csftn oiHlutxv vrhon hop«> uj^^t?^ the luindi 
And j\^ii\ h«^ ^Muo ^^^v^^x\^ti^^n t\> owr fhutt<» : 
l»ut. Ik>|h^ all ^Mt<^, as li^it t\v^n\ oroK^l Wind, 

•. AikI a^Mxv ovMumixM with K>xv^t $l)ani<w 
Ami vmuh ;Umi^uy f^lt* like t\inia«^lfeinws— 
AMU i\tvHul-K>ngtwd niorub Ihjat a t\\^\luu> trvwt, 
A$ (hej ivrotx>i\d» anvl dr&ad of Goil disclaim F 
>V\U intidoU Uxon K\^;!4, as now they Ve xipont, 

AxkI dand tho darning iudigtiaUon K> coufi\)iit ? 



CAM TO 111. lid 

As woU might soamau, whon tho toni|H\<( r.-wos. 
Ami tosses ship !\h^t>. i\s lootball thiv>vii, 
\V\d pixnul doti.'inoi^ to tl\o wimls ami wavos: 
As woll n\i>\ht dwollor in :v tropir fowo, 
AV hcu oarlh(|ualvO shaUos its \vallod rntnparts down, 
C\nHon\n tho porilous ivoking of tho gixniml : 
As >Yoll. Nvhoii mountain torront has oVrtlown 
Its hankvS anvl rnshos on >Yith t'urioiis somuh 

May wivtoh atloat thou shut his o)^»s for sUh^j) pro- 
foumh 

49. 
Thou. ■vvhiU^ our pvosont, tlootlnp: jop wc taste, 
8cattorM pwfuso amidst our oaros ami woos, 
Liko diamonds in tho storilo soil and Avasto, 
Still lot us sook the bliss, which over llows 
Ikvfoix? God's thiXMio and no 4olilomont knows. 
'Tis truth and holiness must guide our t\ ot. 
That g{\iuiug giKxl, whioh no decay o\ rthrows. 
Ti^iuisforr'd fivm earth to hoav'n with joy coiu- 
ploto. 

Our diadem may glcjuu with glories intiuito. 



116 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

50. 

Some years had passed in quietness away, 
When war's alarms came o'er the ocean wide, 
And fiU'd this distant vale with wild dismay. 
England and France, though living side by side, 
And boasting name of Christ, the crucified, 
Yet deem each other nat'ral foes, as though 
To hate was Christian precept undenied : 
And when they madly deal the frequent blow. 
Their furthest colonies must share the guilt and woe. 

51. 
The laurels of triumphant war shall fade. 
And might compar'd with goodness be disgrace ; 
But ne'er shall ignominy dare invade 
The names of benefactors of our race, 
But they shall ev^r shine in sweetest grace. 
In vain shall warrior show his perilous scar ; — 
Let him to men of charity give place ; 
Preacher of peace is title higher for. 
Than ruler of the storm of desolating war. 



CANTO in. 



117 



52. 
On warrior's crest let ignominy light! 
Among the fur-fanVd heroes where is one, 
Whose character witli virtue's beams is bright? 
Give me the fame of our own Washington, 
Who, when invaded liberty was won, 
KctirM a virtuous man to his own home, — 
Shaming the blot of Philip's mighty son, 
Shaming great Ciesai-'s mastery of Rome, 
And modern Cajsar's grief, unthron'd to find a tomb I 

53. 
If murder rear a monument to fame, 
And pow'r to kill be worthy of applause ; 
Why hail not then with song and loud acclaim 
The horns of bull, or kingly lion's jaws, 
Or serpent's fang, or pouncing eagle's claws? 
Why praise not then the dark assassin's knife, 
Demon-contemner of all holy laws ? 
Is it because he takes a single life. 
He merits less, than kindlor of a nation's strife ? 



118 YALE OF HOOSAirXNXK. 

54 

In Hoosatunnuk's vale, where blessed truth 
Of heav*n dispensed its calm and holy light, 
The crimson stain of w:vr was mounv d with ruth. 
* Whither has eharitv now sped her flight/ — 
TTunnissoo said, — ^ and why will Christians tight ? 
Were I a bard in palace of a king, 
Methinks the praise of war I could recite 
In notes more apt, than courtly bards do sing ; 
For thus should rise my song, war*s glories carol- 
ling :' — 

THE KA^^EXS' WAK-IIYMX 
Ye Kavens, whence come ye, that darken the air, 
With croakings, that rouse the wolf in his lair ? — 
<0, from the red fields of glory we've come. 
Where soldiers have fallen ftu" from their home. 
Where carrion corpses lie on the ground. 
And delicious repast for ravens is found ! ' 

In the red fields of slaughter who glory can gain ? 
Does honor spring up from the blood of the 
slain? — 



CAKTO III. 119 

< Ye know not the ways of men of your kind, 
For glory is nurtur'd by blood, ye will tind : 
How little the hero's fiime would spread, 
Unless he did strow the earth with the dead ? 

* Where would be the great Alexander's name. 
Where would be the Koman Caesar's fame, 
Or where any victor-warrior's praise. 
Unless of rayen-pick'd bones they could i-aise 
A monument of towering height, 
Admir'd by all, who gaze at the sight ? * 

And what have ye seen in the fields of slaughter, 
"Where blood has been pour'd abundant like 

water? — 
t We've seen the lair youth, an only son, 
With shatter d limbs, as his life-blood run, 
Speaking of his mother he left but late- 
Then cursing th' enticement to his fate ! 

* We've soon the g;\y lover, who had pledg d his 

vow, 
And hop'd to return \N-ith laurel-orown'd brow 



ISO TALK OF BOOSXTmmm: 

To I wlio^ IwftTt be bad won, 

In a^n»Y stn o tiold all iJoKict : 

Through his ; a tide of aflfe^ons nishtxl ? 

But, cursing his? cr — > .. >Thoel wa$ he cru$httHU 

* Wo*Y\> stVJi '' " ' "ij^ wife 
liVith iaet? all .- -^ ; \'s knife; 
As he lay dying ju\d weltering in Mixxi 

He thought ot* her, 0» how ftui- ''■ 

lie feebly jnst utterM the lor'd . 
Then loud oukV. '. 

lame! 

In his ohildhood\^ all the joy ; 

He had leit him for honor . v>i\ the grv^md* 

As he strnggU\i with de««h in grimu^ >> . ^^ . uud, 
How he ravM, that hi$ soi\ he .< 
He curs'd the axnUition — but lite \\;i5^ o cr ■ 

* WeVe $een m«u\y millions writhii\g in wvh\ 
Cursing their prince, as their ^ouls Trent belovr ; 



CANTO \U. \'2\ 

l>m their curses are rain, tor lunv lu -. .\ ^^ <:..UI rises 

Aiui blood §hjUl jet moisten jUI 1. li the 

skies : — 
Tlieu w\? Rwens will still cry — war ! thou art good, 
For our young ones iMX)vider of carrion food ! * 

Thus sung AVunnissoo ; when Mohekun cried, — 
* Let Rwons l>e the lauroAto-bimls of >var, 
Privileg'd alone to pmise the hero's pride. 
And give due mecvi to conqueror's glorious scar ! 
Their plaudit«scre;uu may warrior? he;\r af^ir, 
Shriller than lite's or trumpet's piercing sound, 
Louder than Ivvt tie's lierce, disoonlant jar , — 
Fit praise of those, who steep with blood the 
ground. 
And spread the desolating stoar full wide around I ' 



€^t Unle nf IJnnsotiinmik. 



CANTO IV. 



WUNNISSOO, 

OS 

THE VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 



CANTO IT. 



1. 

At length the storm came rushing from the north, 
And burst, where at the lofty mountain's feet 
Thy stream, O Hoosuck, flows, and issues forth 
The broad and noble Hudson's waves to greet. 
A feeble garrison, unfit to meet 
The numerous French and savage bands, soonfeU, 
And terror thence was spread on pinions fleet ; 
For what can now th' invading tempest quell ? 
And eVry breeze may bring the warwhoop and the 
yell. 



126 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

2. 

And hark ! the clatt'ring hoofs of foaming horse, 
Bearing dishevell'd dame, wild tale to tell ! 
Where now is he, who rode in front ? A corse ! 
Shot from his saddle, down the victim fell, 
When straight arose the savage shout and yell. 
She held her seat, and seiz'd the bridle now, 
And urg'd her flight from wood and frowning dell. 
Where her companion felt the sudden blow ; 

And won her strange escape from dark and treach- 
erous foe. 

3. 
Bold hearts must arm the inroad to withstand: 
Nor was Mohekun backward at the call. 
Though war be guilt in those, who light the 

brand. 
And heavy woe shall on th' offenders fall ; 
Yet self-defence he deem'd the right of all : 
He would not yield himself to wolf a prey, 
Nor suffer child or wife to be a thrall. 
He went out on a scout ; but from that day 

His eyes ne'er saw his home ; he's fallen far away ! 



CANTO IV. 127 

4. 
To God Wunnissoo look'd with strong desire 
And firmest trust. Passing through waters deep, 
She was not overwhelm'd ; nor did the fire, 
Through which she walk'd, along her garments 

creep ; 
She was secure on edge of perilous steep ; — 
So mighty is God's promise to the just, [weep ? 
Then wherefore, mourner, dost thou ceaseless 
Though keen the blow, in Him repose your trust. 
And life and joy shall spring up from the mould- 
ering dust. 

5. 
Her teacher was expert to soothe her woe. 
And bring out from the word consoling balm. 
O, blessed sympathy, when keen-felt blow 
Has smitten deep, and wrought the grievous harm, 
And blessed care the tempest's rage to calm, — 
The dark despondence of the soul to cheer. 
And unsubmitting passion to disarm ! 
'Tis thus, that healing comes to wound severe, 
And calmness comes, like spring-time after winter 
drear. 



128 VALE OF HOOSATDNNUK. 

6. 

* 'Twas hour of grief,' he said, * when vengeful pride 
The heav'nly Shepherd smote and laid him low. 
How mourn'd his scatter'd sheep, that He had 

died? 
Yet soon their hearts with joy did overflow, 
As He his glorious form alive did show, 
Unscorch'd by all his fiery sufiering ! 
Then had they bliss, which angels cannot know, — 
Kecover'd hope, a faith of heav'nly wing, 
And certain victory too o'er death's keen, piercing 
sting. 

7. 
< That bliss is ours, 'mid all our pains and grief; 
For Jesus lives, his followers' glorious friend^ 
And he hath promis'd peace, and sweet relief. 
And his glad presence till the world shall end. 
Then blow, ye storms, and in confusion blend 
Each element of earthly good : — I hear 
A voice, which all th' tumultuous strife shall end. 
The pow'rful voice—" 'Tis I, why do ye fear?" 
When straight the tempest sinks, and sea and sky 
are clear. 



CANTO IV. 



129 



8. 
* E'en death now hurls a feeble, blunted lance, 
And strikes a slight and ineffectual blow, 
As wounded warrior,— dimm'd his eagle glance,— 
With failing arm resists a vig'rous foe. 
For surely death himself will be brought low : 
The Prince of Life his promise rich will keep, 
And, speaking to the dead, will say, we know, 
In words, that reach death's caverns dark and deep, 
" Lo, tyrant death is dead, and sleeps a lasting sleep I " 

9. 

* O, glorious day, when from the quick'ning dust, 

As shoots up from the ground each vernal flower, 

Shall spring to hfe the millions of the just. 

To bloom untouch'd by death's destroying power ! 

And shall we see again in that glad hour 

The much-lov'd forms, now vanish'd from our 

sight? 
O, for a seraph's tongue the praise to pour. 
Due for such rapt'rous joy and pure delight,— 
Forever to be paid in world of cloudless light !* 
9 



130 VALE OP HOOSATUNNUK. 

10. 

With thrilling hopes like these, ah, who can gaze 
On monarch's tott'ring throne with envious eye ? 
Or on the crumbling fame, which great men raise, 
Like Babel's tow'r, far stretching tow'rd the sky ? 
Or on the tints, which cheek of beauty dye, 
As evanescent as the rainbow's hues. 
Which now adorn the mist, and quickly fly ? 
Ah, who the meteor good of earth can choose. 
And fuU-orb'd Sun of heav'n, forever bright, refuse ? 

11. 

The storm of battle ceas'd : but short repose 

The wasted colonies enjoy 'd, ere war 

Again in all its gloomy terrors rose. 

The fertile fields of industry to mar, 

And kindle flames in villages afar. 

E'en scalps were borne from Hoosatunnuk's 

vale 
By Indians in the light of morning star. 
Then who shall not be rous'd the foe to trail. 
And in his dark retreat with vengeance to assail ? 



CANTO IV. 131 

12. 

Hard-hearted Frenchman brib'd the savage foe, 
And onward to their work the " hell-hounds " led, 
When tomahawk quick laid the victims low, 
And scalping knife was felt, e'er life was fled : 
O, miserable state of those, who bled ! 
Nor Frenchman bears alone th' enormous guilt ; 
Man's heart the same, by wicked pride misled : — 
When British pow'r on French o'erthrown was 
built. 

By English gold procur'd, thus oft was young blood 
spilt. 

13. 
The names of ruthless agents of the crime 
Are names, which bear vile infamy's deep stain, 
And will thus bear it down to future time. 
But why should he escape, in whose dark brain 
The scheme was plann'd, as miner lays his train ? 
Sackville ! the warwhoop shall thy praises sing ! 
Although a peerage thou at last didst gain, 
Reward of faithful service of thy king ; 

Yet, coronet, mark'd with blood, remorseful gleam 
must fling. 



132 VALE OP nOOSATUNNUK. 

14. 

Wunnissoo warn'd in vain, for youtliful pride 
Her son o'ersway'd ; fearless he sought the foe 
With band, that laugh'd at dangers undescried ; — 
But soon the tidings came, that sudden blow 
From ambushment unfear'd had laid them low, 
And all had fall'n, but messenger alone. — 
I may not here describe a mother's woe. 
The silent agony at first, and then the tone 
Of pious grief, with which she sought the gracious 
throne. 

15. 
She did not sink beneath th' incumbent weight. 
As sunk great Momay's spouse, when her dear son 
Met on the battle-field his sudden fate, 
Pierc'd to the heart, as he to vict'ry run. — 
But though she truly said, — ' Thy will be done,' — 
Knowing, amidst the storm, that all was right ; 
Yet there were thoughts, her reason could not 

shun. 
Of force her peacefulness of mind to blight. 
If faith had not supplied the feebleness of sight. 



CANTO IV. 



133 



16. 
She was a widow ; he her only child, 
In her declining years her hope and stay, 
Whose sweet companionship her cares beguiled. 
Ah, who shall blame her strong affection's sway, 
And tears, now lonely wand'rer in the way ? 
How blest beyond all mortals here beneath 
Was she by bier, on which her dead son lay, 
When Christ with voice, that reacb'd the ear of 
death, 
Reviv'd his lifeless frame, restor'd his parted breath ? 

17. 

* O, could th' unutterable bliss be mine ! ' 
She said, — * but surely God is just and good, 
And ne'er, though keen the blow, will I repine.' — 
Few days had pass'd, when lo, before her stood 
Her living son, escap'd from distant wood. 
When captive led, in ambushment unslain. 
And now the sudden change of her mind's mood 
Had wellnigh sent wild fancies to her brain, — 
Thus seeing him, she had not hop'd to see again. 



134 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

18. 

Hast thou not seen along the field wide-spread, 
When swift-wing'd clouds were passing through 

the sky, 
How light and shade successively have fled 
In rapid speed, like coursers rushing by ; — 
Now nature beaming forth most gloriously, 
And now a chilling gloom outspread around? 
In this man's earthly state we may descry. 
Which ne'er is fix'd, but ever changeful found, 
Till midnight shades of death envelop all the ground. 

19. 
Wunnissoo had been griev'd, then rapt in joy. 
And fiU'd with overwhelming gratitude ; — 
But ne'er is earthly bliss without alloy ; 
Full soon she lost her new recover'd good. 
The fever, plague of northern latitude, 
Through Waunseet's youthful veins was creeping 

slow, 
And undermining all youth's hardihood. 
He sunk from day to day beneath the blow, 
Till, triumphing, he bid adieu to all below. 



CANTO IV. 



135 



20. 
Ah, who in this low world would always live, 
And see his being here unmeasured grow. 
Lost to the bliss, which brighter worlds may give, 
The joys untasted, which in heav'n do flow ? 
The heart with earthly bliss, in sooth, may glow ; 
But 'tis hke meteor's light in midnight sky, 
That sudden shoots a beam on earth below, 
Shining aloft one moment gloriously. 
Then vanishmg away from dark and dreary eye. 

21. 
Hast thou a sweet companion of thy way, 
Fair as the snow-white lily of the lake. 
Mild as the breath of morn in fragrant May, 
Of firmest love, which time can never shake ? 
Oh envied wight ! Of bhss thou dost partake. 
Pure and of high degree. But hark, a moan ! 
Alas, thy blissful heart with grief doth break. 
For the blest angel of thy path is gone, 
And thou dost walk a weary pilgrim all alone. 



lot) VALIO OK UOOSATUNNUK. 

"2 "2. 
J>onoalh thy t?li:ide springs there a glorious plant. 
Fair imago of the parent tree so nigh ? 
Its form has ev'ry grace ami charm, 1 grant; 
lis blooming Iknv'rs are glaild'ning to tluM>ye. 
r>u( iVowning elontls are gath'ring in the sky; — 
JNow eomes the icy storm in fnry down, 
And smites thy gentle plant nnpiteonsly, 
"\Vhi!i> all abont the ground eonfus'd are strown 
The honors oi' thy son, a transcript of thine own. 

28. 

Such grief, O Sponser, baixl of Faery Queen, 
And desolation such did thee befjUl : 
Such was thy mournfid destiny, I ween, 
AVhcu reb(d fury smote ihy castle wall, 

luMicalh wluv^c stroke it tottiM'M to its fall. 
And thou i'vom raging storm didst tly in dread, 
Kcaving bt>hind what tluni couldst not ivcall, — 
Thy beauteous chiUl, — like tlow'r on desert 
spread, — 
Crush'd bv the hoof oi' tierv war-horse in his tread. 



CANTO IV. 137 

24. 
Such too thy grief, O Beattic, Scotia's pride, 
For well may virtuous Scotland boast of thee, 
Champion of Virtue and of Truth allied, 
And minstrel too of lofty fantasy. 
In manly youth, with mind enlarg'd and free, 
Thy son was torn away. Thy heart oppressed 
Was desolate, like wreck afloat at sea. 
Borne unresisting by each wave unblcst, 

Till, whelm'd beneath the flood, there came the 
promis'd rest. 

25. 
How idle, then, the poet's visions fair ? — 
But dreams of uncurb'd fancy in the night, — 
But unsubstantial castles in the air, 
Built on the changing clouds in rapid flight ! 
Wo need the hope of good beyond our sight. 
The confidence of bliss beyond the skies. 
The joys of piety, the Spirit's might. 
The beams of kindness from a Saviour's eyes, 

That under heaviest weight of woe we strong may 
rise. 



a;><> valk of HoosArrsNUK. 

And liugVing grief, vrhic > .\^. ro r n sjniairx? ? 

Ye smitteu men ! this needful k.^ . — 

The storm shouM lash the pois'nows atmosjvhere : 
If worldly bliss a film sj^read o'er the eye. 
The vision must be purg'd by hand severe ; 
The film must be removed, or turnM axrrx-. 
TV> ope the vray for glorious beam ti\>ju God on high. 



Full well we need the discipline of woe. 
A worldly, narrow hearty and darksome mimi. 
The love of ev^ bright deceit below. 
Contempt of moral good enhvrgM, r^^fiutni 
Oi direful thrc^ats a fearle^ne^ nK>st Wuui 
And equal unbelief of promis'd gooil. 
With kise ingratitude for love most kiml ; — 
These sw^um in man, as fiies on cturion food, 
And CiUl for sliarp correction of such despVate mood. 



CANTO IT. 



139 



28. 
Yet vain to most is chastisement applied, 
The hand, that smites, unseen by sinful eye. 
The loss of good oft rouses angry pride, 
And oft calls forth the heavy, hopeless sigh. 
One to the place of folly then will fly, 
Or take the wildering cup his grief to drown, 
Or weave anew the tissue of a lie. 
Or cast alloat new hopes, as bubbles blown. 
Or seek to build again the structure overthrown. 

29. 
Wunnissoo wept indeed, yet scarce knew why. 
For her dear boy she could not weep, i^moved 
From sin aiid suft*ring to his God on high ; 
Present with Him, whom she supremely loved ; 
Secure beyond i\ll danger, and approved. 
As she might hope, by final Judge of men : 
She would not call him back : it then behooved 
Her to rejoice. And for herself the pain 
Was needful and would prove her everlasting gain. 



140 VALE OF nOOSATUNNUK. 

SO. 

* My garden draws my step?/ — I hear her say, — 
' ^Vhen, dropping many a seed in the soft ground, 
Nought but brown earth my busy eyes survey ; 
But hope foresees the change, which soon is found. 
Let warmer airs their influence breathe around, 
Let rains descend, and glowing suns arise ; 
The embryo life, that seem'd to sleep profound. 
Will rise in beauteous flow'rs before my eyes, 

Cloth'd with the wondrous hues of sunset autumn 
skies. 

31. 
' Who works this wonder? 'Tis the blessed Power, 
Whose promise, that the sleeping dust shall wake 
And have immortal life at destined hour. 
Cheers my sad heart. Th' eternal morn will 

break, 
And mouldering bodies forms of beauty take. 
Then sleep, my lov'd ones, till the time shall be. 
When angel trump the solid earth shall shake. 
O, bhss beyond all thought, again to see 

The faces, that I lov'd, in heav'nly ecstasy! 



CANTO IV. 14:1 

32. 
* More thrilling still and higher my delight, 
When I my Saviour's face shall also see, 
God's only Son, with glory beaming bright. 
I mourn o'er those I lov'd, and that lov'd me : — 
O, how their beauty shone resplendently ? 
But gn\ee, with loftiest dignity combined. 
Transcending all, that meets the worldly eye, 
From Christ shall pour on ev'ry holy mind 
A tide of heav'nly bliss and raptures undefined.' — 

83. 
The mind, that loves the ways of Pi*ovidence, 
In aU things sees the beams of good and right. 
So have I seen the wide magniticeneo 
Of natiure with the purest ice bedight, 
"When ev'ry tree and branch was vested bright 
AVith crystal garb, as if by magic wove, 
And ev'ry twig did glitter on the sight 
Loaded with gems, — a glorious diamond grove, — 
Fit emblem of the world, when seen with eyes of 
love. 



142 YALE OF UOOSATrS'XUK. 

S4 

The mighty sun, great source of light and joy, 
His race unwearied runs ; the silrer moon 
Walks in her brightness through the silent sky, 
Queen of the glitt'ring hosts at night's mild noon; 
The earth, with countless forms of beauty strown, 
The kindness and the pow'r divine displays, 
With living beings till'd, the fair and boon. 
The world is one wide temple to the praise 
Of Him; who built it, and is good in all his ways. 

S5. 
Though sin, like rushing torrent, sweeps along. 
And wastes the bliss of ev'ry heai*t impure ; 
Yet to the holy man, in virtue strong, 
Relying on his Father s promise sure, 
iiud on his mercy, which doth aye endure, 
No evil happens. From his righteous path 
To wicked ways no tempter shall allure : 
On him shall never fall the blazing wrath 
Of Grod oflended, which the siuniui:: man shall scath. 



CANTO IV. 143 

36. 
Wunnissoo throve beneath the primer's hand, 
As tree, whose lateral, lower branches gone, 
Grows upward with more rapid growth. The 

band, 
Fast'ning her to the earth, dissolved, alone 
In this wide world, she sought a heav'nly throne ; 
Yet sought it by the deeds of holy love, — 
By list'ning to affliction's humble moan, — 
By soft'ning others' cares, while yet she strove 

By truth and pray'r to guide full many to heav'n 
above. 

37. 
She travelled into years, and long survived 
Her first beloved teacher, friend, and guide ; 
And e'en her second pastor she outlived, — 
Edwards, — whose mighty intellect descried 
Deep mysteries, errors with truth allied, 
And threw broad light on darkness of the mind ; 
Yet who, unhurt by philosophic pride, 
Toil'd to instruct the Lidian unrefined. 

The wand'ring to reclaim, the fetter'd to unbind. 



144 VALE OP HOOSATUNNUK. 

38. 
Her death was tranquil, as her life was good : 
No fearful shapes were gliding in her sight, 
Nor chang'd her mind's serene and heav'nly mood. 
Her countenance was calm, save that the light 
Of joy and hope sublime broke forth in might, 
As visions of the future fill'd her eye, — 
Visions of quicken'd frame, and mansions bright. 
Of radiant hosts of blessed saints on high, — 
Her Saviour's form, and raptures of eternity ! 

39. 
So, when the sun was set in autumn's eve. 
And dark, irreg'lar line of clouds hung low, 
Like alpine range, yet space beneath did leave 
Of purest sky, while all above the glow 
Of richest hues was spread on clouds of snow, 
IVe gaz'd, entranced, with fix'd, unsated eye, 
As on a distant, soften'd mountain's brow 
And tranquil silver sea, in which did lie 
The islands of the blest, while glory beam'd on 
high. 



CANTO IV. 145 

40. 
* Long have I liv'd/ — she said, — ' and tried th' 

extremes, 
Wisely arrang'd, of earthly grief and joy ; — 
Along my path were shed now heav'nly gleams, 
And now the shades, that fall from troubled sky : 
But all is vanish'd from my death-struck eye. 
Farewell to all the scenes of earth beneath : 
I go to share th* unmingled bliss on high ! ' — 
When this was utter'd with her failing breath, 
Wunnissoo clos'd her eyes in peacefulness of death. 

41. 

The visions of a dying saint are true. 
Death will but lead to life of endless years, 
The grave to heav'n, where joy is ever new. 
Then wherefore do we shed the bitter tears, 
As friend of Jesus sinks and disappears ? 
Think you, that eye will ne'er again unclose. 
Nor sound e'er pierce the portals of those ears ? 
Think you, those lips will ne'er the thought disclose, 
And that the marble frame ne'er wakes from long 
repose ? 
10 



146 VALE OF HOOSATUXXUK. 

42. 

The many-fooied caterpillar creeps 

His destin'd period slow along tlie ground, 

Then weaves his web, in whicli he dies, tmd sleeps. 

While northei'n streams in iev chains are bound : 

But when the spring returns, and merry sound 

Of songsters fills the grove with melody, 

He bursts the cerements, that had wrapp'd him 

lX)UUd, 

And comes forth in a form, that chiu*ms the eye. 
To float lUoft in air a gilded butterfly. 

43. 
And shall then man, more noble than a worm, 
Created, like the worm, by pow'r of God, 
Ne'er feel the influence, that shall change his form. 
But always sleep beneath the valley's clod ? 
Shame on the doubt : it should receive the rod 
Of sharp rebuke in him, who well descries. 
How life springs up from ev'ry vernal sod. 
And beauty rises, where corruption lies, — 
All nature teeming with still deeper mysteries. 



CANTO IV. 147 

u. 

"Wliat I'cason must admit, by faith is known ; 

And taitli is reason's trust in word divine. 

On dead man's tomb once lay a sealed stone, 

While Roman guard stood watching in a line ; — 

Vain toil that side-pierc'd sleeper to confine ! 

For lo, the warders tremble in despair, 

For earthquake shook the ground like bursting 

. mine. 
And angel's face out-gleam'd with lightning-glare ; 
The stone was roU'd away ; that sleeper is not there ! 

45. 
He rose the first-fruits of the harvest-grave, — 
Abundant harvest, not for sickle ripe, 
But rip'ning ev'ry day. He rose to save 
A guilty world, for which he bore the stripe, 
And scoff of men, the mock'ry, and the gripe 
Of death. He rose ; — triumphant he did rise, 
Away tlie shame and foul reproach to wipe. 
And bring a glorious hope to man, that dies. 
And reassume his disrob'd glory in the skies. 



148 VALE OF nOOSATUNNUK. 

46. 
And as He rose, so all, that sleep in dust. 
In the great day, which ends the earth's career, 
Will wake from death. The wicked and the just, — 
The tott'ring frame, that fell without a tear. 
The beauteous form, to weeping eye most dear, 
The parent, brother, sister, child, and spouse, — 
Adam's whole race will rise their doom to hear. 
The angel's trump will pierce each narrow house, 
And ev'ry sleeper from his dreamless bed will rouse. 

47. 
Then will the minist'ring angel-bands divide 
Th' innum'rous host, as shepherds separate 
The goats from sheep, and place them on each 

side 
Of glorious Judge on his pure throne elate, 
As character shall draw the line of fate. 
Secrets disclos'd, disguises torn away. 
The heart alone, as fill'd with love or hate, 
And acts, which law regard or disobey. 
Will seal the everlasting doom in that great day. 



CANTO IV. 149 

48. 
Ah, what avail the monarch's golden crown, 
And purple robes of earthly dignity 
With pearls and glitt'ring diamonds thickly strown, 
If now the culprit lifts his conscious eye, 
Plac'd on the left of heav'n's bright majesty? 
His pow'r abus'd, and truth and right o'erthrown, 
Passion uncheck'd, though sufTrers rais'd their cry, 
Pollution wide-spread from the tainted throne, — 

Such towering guilt will meet the Judge's darkest 
frown. 

49. 
The warrior too, who once with eagle eye 
Gaz'd on the field of slaughter outspread wide, 
Who lov'd full well the bloody revelry, 
The glorious array and battle's pride, 
And deem'd himself a god the storm to guide, — 
Will now, like pale-fac'd coward, stand aghast, 
His fierceness and his glory laid aside : 
He shrinks, as woman at the battle's blast, 

And moans like fallen wretch, whose blood is well- 
ing fast. 



150 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

50. 

The griping miser too, that wrung his gains 
From the poor toiler's weary strength and food ; — 
The rich man,thoughno crime his conscience stains, 
Yet faithless, with a dearth of actions good ; — 
The lustful youth, that in dark solitude 
Sheds with'ring blast on beauteous virgin's fame ; 
The man with mighty intellect endued, 
Who hates God's truth : — all these, cast down and 
tame, 
Will stand dismay'd, the heirs of everlasting shame. 

51. 
False, cruel priests, that in high places sat. 
The selfish shepherds too, though good their creed, 
That cloth'd them with the wool, and ate the fat. 
But fail'd the wand' ring flock to guide and feed ; — 
The proud contemner of the heaVnly meed,— 
Dark hypocrite, who wore a mask of white, — 
All, who are mark'd with vile, unholy deed. 
All, who of blessed gospel's sound made light. 
Will look with anguish on the Judge, enthron'd in 
light. 



CANTO IV. 151 

52. 

* Depart ye cursed, into quenchless fire, 
Where Satan and his angels fiercely rave,' — 
To them the Judge will say in righteous ire : — 

* For I was hungry, and no meat ye gave, 
Thirsty, and yet no drink from death to save ; 
In prison, and my woe ye would not see ; 

In sickness, sinking fast into the grave, 

And coldly ye withheld due charity : — 

Ye did it not to these, — ye did it not to me ! ' 

53. 
O, this is not a dream of fancy wild, 
Nor bugbear to restrain the vulgar throng, 
Nor idle tale to terrify the child, 
Incredible by man of reason strong. 
The Judge himself, whose words the skeptics 

wrong, 
This awful scene has spread out to the eye, 
Warning to all. Nor will the time be long, 
Ere, reader, thou wilt find, 'tis not a lie, 
But truth of God and terrible reality. 



152 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

54 
Terrible, but not to tliee, if on the right 
Thou then shalt stand among the good and wise ; 
If in the Saviour's likeness, pure and bright, 
Thou liftest to thy friend thy raptur'd eyes. 
Oh, blessed hosts, heirs of the crystal skies. 
To glory rising from dishonor'd graves ! 
Ye now shall find, that virtue never dies ; 
That martyr's zeal, which tyrant's arm outbraves. 
Leads to a radiant, heav'nly throne, where Jesus 
saves. 

55. 
There stand the prophets and apostles true. 
And all good champions of the fiiith. There stand 
The heroic suflTrers for the doctrine new, — 
The scoff in eariy age of Roman band ; 
And all in later days, who bore the brand. 
The scouree, the wheel and rack, and kindlinsr 

flame, — 
Torments, by modem Roman tyrant planned, — 
False priest, assuming good and holy name. 
But now an outcast with those wretched heirs of 
shame. 



CANTO IV. 153 

There are the heralds of the cross, whose zeal 
And vig'rous faith, and heav'nly charity 
Dissolv'd the tend'rest ties, which mortals feel. 
And urg'd them o'er the waste of boist'rous sea, 
That they might preach glad tidings, and set free 
The slaves of Satan from their galling chain. 
And give them truth's eternal liberty, — 
Freedom from superstition, sin, and pain ; — 

That Saviour's blood, unknown, might not be shed 
in vain. 

57. 
There in resplendent form of glory shine 
All holy men, whose lives their goodness prove. 
Whose minds receiv'd the rays of truth divine. 
And hearts were kindled with the Saviour's love. 
Though once in various conflicts fierce they strove, 
And bore an untold weight of earthly woe, — 
The chastisement from hand of God above 
Deserv'd, though still in kindness sent ; yet now 

Their Master plants unwith'ring crown upon their 
brow. 



154: VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

58. 
He says, — * ye blessed of my Father, come, — 
Heirs of the kingdom high, for you prepared 
Ere earth was form'd, — possess your final home ; 
For in my want your goods I freely shared ; 
And when in loathsome prison, undebarred 
By pride and shame, ye came my grief to know : 
Such love to mine your love to me declared/ — 
Then have the righteous endless life ; but, lo, 
The wicked pass away, deep plung'd in endless woe ! 

59. 
Swept quickly off by whirlwind's sudden blast, 
A calm is left and clear, transparent sky ; 
When blessed host themselv-es do prostrate cast 
In adoration of the King on high ; 
And then they strike the joyous minstrelsy, 
That through all heavVs echoing arches rings, — 
' Eternal praise to God's high majesty, 
And glory, honor, pow'r, and thanksgivings 
Be thine, O holy Lamb, whose blood salvation 
brings ! * 



CANTO IV. 155 



HYMN OF THE REDEEMED. 

' Holy, holy, holy, Almighty God, 

Who wast, and art, and art for aye to come ! 

Most worthy Thou to bear the sovereign rod, 

And sway all worlds beneath th' empyrean dome, — 

Both settled orbs of light, and orbs that roam ; 

Worthy by all their hosts to be obeyed. 

For thou all worlds and all their hosts hast made. 

* And worthy Thou, the Lamb of sacrifice, 
To bear the honors of thy glorious state ! 

To Thee all blessing, praise, and thanks shall rise, 
And nought thy fuU-orb'd glories shall abate, — 
The Father's Son at his right hand elate ; 
For Thou wast once for our redemption slain. 
And crucified on yonder smoking plain. 

* There our first breath did draw the tamted air, 
And there contagious guilt had seiz'd our mind ; 



156 VALE OP HOOSATUNNUK. 

And we had perish'd in forlorn despair, 
But Thou the wondrous, healing balm didst find, 
And in thy skill the wounds of sin didst bind : 
Thou didst outpour upon the cross thy blood, 
And we were wash'd in the red, sacred flood. 

• When all our thoughts sunk down, like nightly 

dews. 
Precipitated to the dark, cold earth, 
The holy, blessed Spirit did infuse 
New hopes and joys, and give a heavenly birth. 
Stamping God's form on mould of little worth ; 
For such was God's decree of boundless love. 
Electing mortals to this bliss above. 

' Then straight we breath'd a pure and joyous air ; 
Bright visions cheer'd us in our heav'nward way 
Midst earthly woe, and strife, and want, and care 
Thy steadfast promise was our firmest stay, 
And nought could shake our hope, nor bring dis- 
may : 
E'en when we walk'd through death's terrific vale, 
His darts struck harmless our celestial mail. 



CANTO it. 157 

« And now we bend before th' eternal throne, 
With body disenthrall'd from chains of night, 
And glorious, hke thine own, O Holy One, 
And spirit pure as this infolding light. 
While all the Godhead beams upon our sight ;— 
Snatch'd from yon whirlwind's blast, and full en- 
dued 
With blessed heaven's illimitable good ! 

* Keen thirst and hunger we shall feel no more. 
Nor shall the noonday sun our strength bring 

low; 
No lightnings here will strike, nor tempests roar ; 
No pain shall rack, no bitter tear shall flow, 
Nor aught of ill be felt, we knew below. 
The living fount of joy here pours its tide ; 
And, Jesus, thou in our bright path dost guide ! 

< To Thee we owe the diadem, we wear. 
Mocking the earthly diamond-glitt'ring crown ; 
To Thee we owe th' unmeasur'd bliss, we share, 
Th' immortal glories, thick around us strown ; 



158 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

And our deep debt we will forever own ; 
For thou didst stoop to raise us to this height, 
And fix our home in this out-beaming light. 

* Then, while th' eternal cycles hold their way, 
We'll shout aloud love's rapt'rous, ceaseless song. 
To Thee, whose hands the scars of love display, — 
Saviour from ev'ry tribe of countless throng, — 
To Thee do wisdom, honor, pow'r belong ! 
Salvation to our God on his high throne, 
And to the Lamb, the slain and Holy One ! * 



CANTO IV. 159 



WRITTEN AFTER THE FUNERAL OF MT BELOVED 
WIFE, WHO DIED JUNE 3, 1828, AGED 40. 



My Malleville ! I've plac'd thee in the grave, 
And thou dost sleep now calmly with the dead ; 
And there wilt sleep till He, whose arm doth save, 
Shall lift thee from thy lowly, silent bed ; 
Shall call thee forth, as spring-flow'r bursts the 

clod, 
To bloom above before the throne of God ! 

Thrice five times have I seen the vernal grove 
Put forth its budding honors green and fair, 
Since first thy hand was mine, thy virgin-love, 
Thy loyal heart, and tender zeal and care : — 
And all this while thy soul hath cleav'd to mine 
With ties of purity and strength divine. 



160 VALE OF nOOSATUNNUK. 

How lovely was thy face, when in the bloom 
Of youth it beam'd upon my raptur'd eye ? 
How lovely, when, o'erpast the mother's doom, 
It gaz'd upon thy babes so tenderly ? 
No face, — I've thought in many a blessed hour, — 
Was fram'd like thine for sweetness and for power. 

But I have seen thee in thy deep repose, — 
The sleep of death ; — and there was loveliness, 
Which nought of living beauty ever shows, 
And which no earthly language can express ;— 
A' holy calm, like the still vault above, 
And dignity, which spoke of heav'nly love ! 

But, O, how lovely will thy form appear, 
When all the slumb'rers in the silent ground 
Shall the archangel's piercing trumpet hear. 
And rise to judgment, as they catch the sound? 
Then will thy face beam radiance divine, 
For Jesus' glorious likeness will be thine ! 

Would I recall thee to this painful life ? 
I would not, if my broken heart I know, — 



CANTO IV. 161 

No, not again as friend and lovely wife ; 
For thou art safe. Let raging tempests blow, 
And toss my shatter'd bark on angry sea ; 
No storm nor billow can extend to thee ! 

Thy form sleeps where the weary are at rest; 
But, high above this ball of mist and shade, 
Thy purest spirit is in heav'n most blest, 
And nought thy rapt'rous bliss shall e'er invade, 
For thou dost dwell in God's eternal light, 
And thou art guarded by his arm of might. 

A few sad hours have fled, since thou didst say, 
When from short absence I return'd to thee, — 
* This unto me has been a weary day. 
Longing my darling friend again to see.' — 
Alas ! when next were spread the shades of night. 
The damps of death were settled on thy sight I 

'Yet was thy love unfaltering in death ; 
For even in thy parting agony 
Thou didst suppress the struggling of thy breath 
11 



162 VALE OF HOOSATUNNUK. 

To listen to thy husband's broken cry, 

As thy cold, pulseless hand he wildly grasped, 

And pray'd his hold might not yet be unclasped. 

IVe lost thy love, the chosen of my heart ! 
Thine eye is dark ; and all thy winning smile 
No more the thrilling gladness will impart, 
Nor thronging, idle cares and griefs beguile. 
The charm of life is gone ; its hues are fled ; 
And earth's bright hopes extinct, since thou art 
dead! 

Yet long we've deem'd life but a meteor's glare, 
And all the hues of hfe illusions vain. 
And all earth's hopes a false, deceitful flare, 
Since nought, we hold most dear, can we retain. 
Thus have we thought and said, but now I feel ; 
I welcome too the woe, for thine's the weal ! 

I've lost thy love ; for in that tide of light, 
Which from the throne of God doth ever flow, 
And near th' eternal fountain of delight 



CANTO IV. 163 

No thought of thine can reach this world below. 
Though seraph on earth's mission swiftly flies, 
Thy rest is in the blessed paradise. 

And thou art joining in the heav'nly song, 
Bursting, like torrent, from the harps of gold. 
Resounding through heaven's arches by the throng 
Of ransom'd sinners, and with joys untold, — 
* Let wisdom, honor, pow'r in highest strain 
To Thee, Lamb, be paid, for thou wast slain ! ' 

I've lost thy love ; and yet it is not lost, 
For all thy bliss and rapture shall be mine I 
A few more days on angry billows tost. 
And my freed spirit shall be join'd with thine : 
Together from the dust our forms shall rise. 
And love will beam again from thy blue eyes 1 



NOTES 



FOB 



t flale nf innBattttinuk. 



NOTES 



WuNNissoo, the name of the leading character in 
this poem, means in the Hoosatunnuk language, ' She is 
beautiful ;' and it must be allowed to be a word of a sweet 
Indian sound. 

As of the four hymns, which close the cantos of this 
poem, the first happens to be without a title, with which 
each of the three others is furnished, perhaps it would 
be brought into harmony with them by what may be 
deemed an appropriate title, ' The Youth embarking in 
the Voyage of Life.' 

Through Hoosatunnulds vale there Jloivs the stream. 

Canto I. st. 1. 
The County of Berkshire, 50 miles by 20 in extent, 
the most western county and most elevated territory of 
the State of Massachusetts, borders on New York on the 
west, Vermont on the north, and Connecticut on the 
south. It lies chiefly in the rale of the Hoosatunnuk, 
though resting in part on a mountain ridge on each side, 
on the east and the west, and including Saddle Moun- 



168 NOTES. 

tain on the north. Mount Washington is at the south- 
west corner. The Kiver Hoosatunnuk, flowing through 
this valley, is constituted by two branches, from Windsor 
and Lanesborough, which unite in Pittsfield, whence it 
takes a southerly course, and, after enriching also the 
towns of Lenox, Lee, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, 
and Sheffield, and moving the thousands of wheels of 
manufacturing establishments, passes through the State 
of Connecticut, and empties into Long Island Sound at 
Stratford, midway between the Connecticut and the 
Hudson rivers. 

The valley, occupied by these six beautiful and flour- 
ishing towns, bears the name of the river : it is the Vale 
of the Hoosatunnuk. Dr. Dwight, in his Travels, says, 
the true word is Hooestennuc, meaning, — on the au- 
thority of Dr. Jonathan Edwards, who was skilled in the 
Indian language, — "over the mountain." Its composi- 
tion from any Indian words is not known. 

Pittsfield being in the centre of Berkshire, the towns 
at the north are Lanesborough, Cheshire, Adams, and 
Williamstown : from the last place the Hoosuck River 
flows to the north and west and empties into the Hudson. 

The Indian names of rivers, lakes, mountains, towns, 
and states, which are still retained in our country, are 
frequently names of great beauty and significance. The 
Connecticut means the long river ; the Kennebec, the 
snake river ; the Mississippi, the great river. What fine 
sounding names are the Susquehanna, the Monongahela, 
the Shenandoah, the Potomac, the Rappahannock, the 
Alabama ? 



NOTES. 1 S9 

In the centre of Massachusetts is a mountain, called 
Wachuset, ^hich is the Indian word for mountain,— it 
being indeed a mountain by way of eminence, the highest 
in that region. The Indian word Massachuset is com- 
pounded of the words Massa, great, and Wachuset, 
mountain, meaning great mountain. Roger Williams 
says, "I had learnt, that the Massachusetts was called so 
from the Blue Hills, a little island thereabout [in Narra- 
ganset Bay] ; and Canonicus's father and ancestors, liv- 
ing in those southern parts, transferred and brought their 
authority and name into those northern parts." Smith 
calls the Blue Hill of Milton, the highest hill in, the 
neighborhood of Boston, " the high mountain of Massa- 
chusit." 

Pontoosuc then the spot, now PitUjield named. 

Canto I. St. 6. 

That part of the valley of the Hoosatunnuk, which is 
now occupied by Pittsfield, was called by the Indians 
Pontoosuc ; and the west branch of the river, Hoosatun- 
nuk, which in this town unites with the east branch, is 
called the Pontoosuc. The first white settlement was 
made in 1 752. At a town meeting in 1 753, it was voted 
to build a meeting-house and to raise money for the sup- 
port of a religious teacher. In 1761, Pontoosuc was in- 
corporated by the name of Pittsfield, so named in honor 
of William Pitt, the Earl of Chatham, the friend of 
America. 

The venerable Elm, which still stands in the centre of 
the public square, was spared, when the other forest trees 



170 NOTES. 

were cut down. It is 126 feet in heiglit, and its trunk 
measures 90 feet, ere the limbs brancli out. 

Saddle Mountain, lying in Adams and Williamstown, 
about 20 miles distant at the north, is a beautiful object. 
Graylock is the name of its highest peak, about 2,800 
feet above the valley at Williams College and 3,580 feet 
above the tide-water at Albany. 

Afatliers holy face, ^'C— Canto I. st. 7. 

Kev. Thomas Allen, the first minister of Pittsfield, — a 
native of Northampton and a graduate of Harvard Col- 
lege in 1762, in a distinguished class, including Drs. Eliot 
and Belknap, Judge Francis Dana, and Governor Ger- 
ry, — was ordained April 18, 1764, and died Feb. 11, 
1810, aged 67 years. He was not only a faithful and elo- 
quent minister, but a patriot of the Revolution, a chaplain 
in the army, and on one occasion he played the part of 
a soldier. He thought it his duty to march with a com- 
pany of his own people in a three days' campaign to 
Bennington, and with them fought in the successful bat- 
tle, which checked the advance of Burgoyne. The third 
day he returned home, and the next day, Sunday, 
preached to a jojiFul congregation. I remember well 
two large, square, white flint-glass bottles, which he 
brought as trophies, captured with a Hessian surgeon's 
horse, the wine of which he gave to the wounded. 

His wife, Elizabeth Lee, daughter of Jonathan Lee, 
the first minister of Salisbury, Conn., died March 31, 
1830, aged 82 years. Her descent from WiUiam Brad- 
ford, the distinguished early Governor of Plymouth, 



NOTES. 171 

was as follows: 1. His son, Major William Bradford ; 2. 
Alice Bradford, married in 1674 Rev. William Adams 
of Dedham; 3. Abicl Adams, married Rev. Joseph 
Mctcalf of Falmouth: 4. Elizabeth Mctcalf married 
Rev. Jonathan Lcc. 

Of their 12 children, the names of the deceased, 
omitting two who were quite young, were as follows : 
Thomas died in Boston, a member of the Legislature 
from Pittsfield, in 1806, aged 37 ; Jonathan, a Senator, 
died in Pittsfield in 1845, aged 72; Elizabeth, married 
to William T. White, a Boston merchant, died in London 
in 1798, aged 23 ; George Washington died in Georgia 
in 1820, aged 38 ; Clarissa, married to John Breck of 
Northampton, died in 1831, aged 52; Captain Samuel 
Lee died in Georgia in 1816, aged 32 ; Love, married to 
Elcazer Wheelock Ripley, a general in the war of 1812, 
died in Louisiana in 1820, aged 34; Solomon Metcalf, a 
Professor in Middlcbury College, Vermont, died in 1817, 
aged 28 ; Elisha Lee, a surgeon in the army, died in 
Louisiana in 1817, aged 24. 

That the writer of this is now a solitary pilgrim, the 
only survivor of such a large family, is one of the lessons 
of providence concerning the delusive, vanishing scenes 
of the earth, which, to his readers, his fellow-travellers 
on this little globe, he has aimed to teach in his rhymes. 

Canto I. Stanza 11. 
The origin of our Indian tribes is a question of inter- 
est. As all men descended from Adam, and as the human 
family was spread from Asia over the earth, the question 



172 NOTES, 

naturally arises, whence was tlie American continent 
settled ? And yet another question presents itself, — 
were all the ancient inhabitants of America descendants 
of one branch of the eastern family ? 

As it is only 40 miles across Behring's Straits between 
America and Asia, that is doubtless a point, at which the 
inhabitants of Northeastern Asia passed over into Amer- 
ica and spread themselves over North America. There 
is a general resemblance among a multitude of the Indian 
tribes and an affinity in their languages, besides that many 
of the tribes have a tradition, that they came from the 
northwest. 

In respect, however, to the Mexicans, and to the nu- 
merous tribes of the West Indies and Central America 
from Mexico to Panama, and of South America, there is 
reason to believe, that they had a different origin, or that 
some of them had, esjDecially the tribes of Mexico and 
Central America. The difference in religion and in the 
knowledge of sculpture and architecture is very great 
and striking. 

Mr. George Jones published in London, in 1843, the 
History of Ancient America, in which he advances the 
theory, that the inhabitants of North America were 
descendants of Israel, and those of Central America the 
descendants of the Tyrians. According to him, Azelmic 
was King of Tyre, in August, 332 years before Christ, 
when the city was taken and destroyed by Alexander ; 
and the fugitives escaped in vessels of Sidon and sailed 
to the Canaries, and'thence to America. From Teueriffe 
to Florida, being about 3,300 miles, with a favorable 



NOTES. ^"^^ 



trade wind, the voyage could be made in a month. Thus 
this first migration across the Atlantic was 1824 years 
before the rediscovery by Columbus. 

As to the proof of this theory the writer says, there 
was a tradition in Mexico, that their fathers first touched 
in Florida. Then he imagines, that he finds some hmts 
in scriptural prophecy concerning Tyre. But if this 
and one or two other arguments should be unsatisfactory, 
another argument is certainly deserving of great consid- 
eration, founded on the resemblance between the Tynan 
religion and architecture and the religion and architec- 
ture of the Mexicans and the neighboring tribes. 

The North American Indians have no architectural 
stone ruins ; but such ruins abound in Central America, 
atUxmal,Cholula, Palenque, Copan, and Yucatan for 
information concerning which the reader is referred to 
Humboldt, Stephens, and Norman. The pyramidal 
ruins, with the peculiar structures on them, are only 
traceableasEgypto-Tyrianarchitecture. The sculptures 
also prove the Tyrian origin, as does also the worship of 
Saturn, the victim-craving Moloch of Canaan's descend- 
ants From the Canaanites sprang Sidon, then Tyre, 
then Carthage: they sacrificed their children by fire to 
their idols. As the Tyrians sacrificed them to Apollo, or 
the Sun, so the Mexicans made the same sacrifices m the 
temple of the Sun; and Mr. Squier, in his work on 
Nicaragua, among many prints of stone idols which he 
discovered, has given one of a frightful idol, found at 
Bensacola, an island of the Nicaraguan lake, near Gren- 
ada, the eyes of which are large, round, and staring, the 



174 NOTES. 

mouth widely distended, the lower jaw held down by the 
hands, and the tongue reaching to the breast. How 
awful must it have been to " the devotees of the ancient 
religion, when the bloody priest daubed the lapping 
tongue with the yet palpitating hearts of his human vic- 
tims ? " 

Such is the theory of Mr. Jones. It is certainly a re- 
markable fact, that Central America is distinguished from 
North America by its architecture and sculptures in 
stone and the sacrifice of human victims to idols ; and 
there is no easier nor more probable explanation of the 
fact, than that Central America was settled by the Phe- 
nicians or the fugitives of Tyre, 15,000 of whom escaped 
in the ships of Sidon from the flames of the city. 

One would expect, that some light would be thrown 
upon this subject by the examination and comparison of 
languages. Here may be a field of future labor and dis- 
covery. At present, we are able to compare the lan- 
guages of the Mohegans of the North, of the Mexicans 
and other tribes of Central Americans three or four 
thousand miles distant, and of the Araucanians or Chili- 
ans as many miles south of them ; and we find no affinity 
whatever as to words. It is remarkable also, that in this 
respect there is a perfect dissimilarity among tribes liv- 
ing near ca.ch other in Guatemala and Nicaragua. 

Mr. Squier has given a table of 200 words in the 
Nagrandan and Chorotegan languages, near lake Nicara- ' 
gua and of the Mosquito, but in the three languages no 
.>wo words appear to be alike. Thomas Gage says, there 
were 18 languages in Guatemala. The Pochonchi, of 



NOTES. 175 

which he gives specimens, has no resemblance to the 
foregoing nor to the Mexican. To this last, however, 
there is a strong resemblance in the Niquiran, near the 
Bay of Fonseca, which is accounted for by the !Niquirans 
being a dispersed colony of Mexicans. It is remarkable, 
that the Araucanian language extends 1200 miles along 
the Pacific coast : but this has no resemblance to the 
Mexican, in which the letters B, D, F, G, K, and S are 
not to be found : it is said, that in the Peruvian also B, 
D, G, R, X, and Z are wanting. But in the Chilian all 
the words terminate in the six vowels and in B, D, F, 
G, L, M, N, R, and Y. 

The Indian languages are rendered peculiar by what 
are called bunch words, by which are often expressed a 
whole English sentence by one compound word ; — as in 
Eliot's Bible, ' thou hast dove's eyes ' is in Indian in one 
word, which any one may undertake to pronounce, who 
is able — namely, Kooskuhwhannansuskesukonom. In 
the Mohawk the name of Joseph Brant, meaning, ' two 
sticks of wood bound together,' v/as in one word, Thay- 
endanegea. In the following instance by Mather, for 
* our question' the English is short and the Indian bunch 
is sufficiently long, — Kummogkodonattoottummooctite- 
aongannunnonash. 

Were scions of the old Moliegan tree. — Canto I. st. 11. 

The word Mohegan is an abridgment of the word 
Muhhekaneew, in the singular, the plural of which is 
Muhhekaneok. The word signifies ' the people of the 
great waters, continually in motion.' Not only the 



176 NOTES. 

Stockbridge Indians and those in the neighborhood in 
the State of New York, extending to the Hudson River 
at Albany, but the Indians also at Montville, between 
Norwich and New London, in Connecticut, were called 
Mohegans. By some they are regarded as one of five 
associated tribes, — the Delawares, called by the French 
the Loups, being another, — speaking the same language. 
It has been said, that the " Mahiccons occupied Staten 
Island, York Island, Long Island, and that part of New 
York and Connecticut, which lies between Hudson and 
Connecticut rivers, from the Highlands down to the 
Sound." 

Mr. Heckewelder says, the true name of the Mohegan 
Indians is Mahicanni, and that the Dutch called them 
Mahikanders ; the French, Mourigans and Mahingans ; 
the English, Mohiccons, Mohuccans, Muhhekanew, Scha- 
ticooks, River Indians. — This last name may have been 
given because they dwelt on the Hudson, Hoosatunnuk, 
and Connecticut rivers ; or only because they lived on 
the Mohicannittuck, river of the Mohicans, or the Hud- 
son. 

Soon after the settlement of New York, the principal 
Indians were denominated Mohegans, consisting of vari- 
ous tribes, or bands, living chiefly on the east side of the 
Hudson River. When the Director-General, Kieft, and 
Council, held a treaty Aug. 30, 1G45, the Mohegan chief, 
called Aepjen, was the leader of the assembled red men, 
and spoke for the AVappinnecks, Wechquaesqueecks, the 
Sintsings, and the Kitchtawauks : and at this time peace 
was reestablished. Other Moheszan tribes were the 



NOTES. 177 

Siwanoys near Norwalk, the Manhattans, the Pachami, 
the Wappcngins, and tlio Tankitekcs. But most or all 
these Indians were at tliis time in a degree of subjection 
to the Mohawks and paid them tribute. 

Josselyn gives the following description of the Empire 
city : " New York is situated at the mouth of the great 
River Mohegan,and is built with Dutch brick, the meanest 
house therein being valued at 100 pounds. To the land- 
ward it is compassed with a wall of good thickness. At 
the entrance (Jf the river is an island well fortified, and 
hath command of any shij), that shall attempt to pass 
without their leave." 

Mr. Bolton, in his history of Westchester, says, that at 
the time of the Dutch discovery, " the Mahicanni resided 
on the east shore of the Hudson." These were the Man- 
Idcani and Mahikans of De Laet, the Mahiccanders and 
Mohickanders of the Dutch, the Mahikans or Mohegans 
according to Professor Ebeling, and the Muhhekancew 
or Mohegans, known in New England history. Mr. 
Bancroft says, — " the country between the banks of the 
Connecticut River and the Hudson was possessed by in- 
dependent villages of the Mohegans, kindred with the 
Manhattans ; whose few smokes once arose amidst the 
forests on New York island." A small lake, 4 miles from 
the Hudson at Peek's Kill, is still called Mohegan. 

According to Brodhead, when the Mohegans, who 
lived opposite to fort Orange or Albany, were expelled 
by the Mohawks from their ancient abode, tlicy settled 
themselves on the fresh river, called Connettecock by 
the natives, under the Sachem Sequeen ; and probably 
12 



178 NOTES. 

at this period they entered the Berkshire or Hoosatun- 
nuk valley, and spread themselves over the State of Con- 
necticut. As there were 13 bands of Indians on Long 
Island, among them the Montauks, the Shinecocks, the 
Rockaways, so the number of small elans was much 
greater on the main land. The river at New London 
soon bore the name of Mohegan, and the Indians in that 
neighborhood were called Moheeks. 

The Mohegan language, concerning which Dr. Ed- 
wards published his Observations, in 1788, is, according 
to him, " spoken by all the Indians throughout New Eng- 
land. Every tribe, as that of Stockbridge, that of Farm- 
ington, that of New London, &c., has a different dialect ; 
but the language is radically the same. This language 
appears to be much more extensive than any other lan- 
guage in North America. The languages of the Dela- 
wares in Pennsylvania, of the Penobscots bordering on 
Nova Scotia, of the Indians of St. Francis in Canada, of 
the Shawanese on the Ohio, and of the Chippeways at 
the westward of Lake Huron are all radically the same 
with the Moher>;an. The same is said concerning the 
languages of the Ottowaus, Nanticooks, Munsees, Me- 
nomonees, Messisaugas, Saukies, Ottagaumies, Killisti- 
noes, and Algonkins." 

The following specimens of words from different tribes 
will show the affinity of many of the Indian languages* 
Being collected from various writers, of different lan- 
guages, who had no common method of denoting partic- 
ular sounds, there was doubtless a greater similarity in 
the pronunciation than appears on paper. 



NOTES. 



179 



House. 



Mohegan, Wechwom, WeeJc- 

uwuhm. 
Norridgewock, Wigwam. 
St. Francis, Wigwam. 
Penobscot, Wigwam, WiJcet. 
Miami, Weelcauviay. 



Scoodiac, WannojiJcowam. 
Shawanese, Wlgwa. 
Algonkin, Wihiwam. 
Dekiware, Wihwam. 
Mnnsee, Wichquam. 
Cliippeway, Wlgwaum. 



This last gives the sound of the a in warn of the other 



words. 



Paver. 



Mohegan, Seepoo, T'seepoo, 

Thcepow. 
Massachusetts, or Natick, Sepu, 
Narraganset, Seip. 
Norridgewock, Seepoo. 
St. Francis, Sf.epoo. 
Penobscot, Seehoo. 
Sclioodiac, or 
Passamaquoddy, Seipb. 



Micmac, Sepoon. 
Skoffie, Shee-eep. 
Delavvai-e, Seepoo, Sipu. 
Chippeway, Seepee, Sippim. 
Algonkin, Sipi, Sipim. ^ 
Miami, Seepeeway, Sipioue. 
Pottawatameh, ISeebee. 
Knistencaux, Sepee. 
Shawanese, Thepee, Sepe. 



Mountain. 
Mohegan, W^cJm, WhaucJioo. | Miami, Atcheewee. 



Wad- 



Massacliusetts, Wadcliu. 

chuasJi, plurak 
Penobscot, Waad-Jo. Wau-cho, 
Schoodiac, Waadtcn, Wadjoo. 



Dekiware, WaudicJioo, Wauck- 

choowall, pi. 
Chippeway, Wudju, Wudjuwun, 

pk 



Mohegan, Namase, Namass. 
Naticks, Namolis, Namdhsoh, 

Namohsog, pi. 
Narraganset, Namauss. 



Fish. 

Penobscot, Nom-is. 
Schoodiac, Nom-is. 
Delaware, Namees. 
Chippeway, KicJcon. 



Fire. 



Mohegan, 'Thtouw, Siauw. 

Natick, Nootcm. 

Narraganset, 8quuUa,Note, Yote, 

MicTcot. 
Norridgewock, SJcootai. 
St. Francis, Scooiiah. 
Penobscot, Scoutay, Skwit-ta. 
Schoodiac, Skwit, Skoot. 



Mountaineer, ScJwoioo. 
Skoffie, Schlcootow. 
Algonkin, Scoutay. 
Messisaugas, Scooleh. 
Chippeway, Smtta, Isk-Jcoo-da. 
Knisteneaux, Scoutay. 
Shawanese, Scoote. 
Miami, Kohteway. 



180 



NOTES. 



Shoe. 



llolies^nii, Ml-issin. 
Natick, 31ohkissonash, pi. 
NarrnQ;anset, Mocvssinash, pi. or 

Jlockiissinchash. 
Norridgewock, iI/«Z;Z:a?/se«. 
Penobscot, Jlulckaystn. 
St. Fancis, 31oJcasm, Mohkausia. 



IMoun tai n cev, Maslitaslmn. 
Skoffie, Mastcshun. 
Al2;onkin, Mauckisin. 
Chippoway, JLiukissin. 
Knistencaux, Moscasin. 
Nanticoke, Jlechkissiiis. 
Delaware, Mauxen. 



The Sun. 



"Mohegan, Keesogk. 
Narraganset, KeesucJcquand, the 

Sun-god. 
Norridgewock, Keezoos. 
St. Francis, Keesoos. 
Penobscot, Geesoosj Keesoos. 
Micmac, Nakoushet. 



Mountaineer, Beshung. 
Skoffie, Beeshoon. 
Algonkin, Kijis. 
Cliippeway, Kissis, Geessessey. 
Delaware, Gees-chiich. 
Minsi, Gls-chuch. 



Winter. 



]\Ioliegan, Hpoon. 
Natick, Popoon. 
Narraganset, Papone. 
Norridgewock, Payboon. 
St. Francis, PeMoon. 
Penobscot, Pajwon. 
Mountaineer, Poopoohen. 



Skoffie, Poopoon. 
A^-onkin, Pepoon. 
Chippcway, Pepoon, Behone^ 

Pecboan. 
Knisteneaux, Pepoon. 
Nanticoke, Poopponu, Hqppoon. 
Miami, Pe^yonway. 



Devil. . 



^lohegan, Mtandou, Mannito. 
Natick, MaUannit. 
Norridgewock, Maiseneioeskoo. 
St. Francis, Maitchantoo. 
Penobscot, Madilhamh. 
Scboodiac, Ma-cln-handt. 
Algonkin, Matcld, Matclii-mani- 
too. 



Chrppeway, Manitoo, Matcliee- 

manitoo. 
Delaware, 2Iachtando, Matslti- 

mannitto. 
Shawanese, Matcliemeneioo. 
Nanticoke, MaUannioie. 
Miami, Matdiee-manetoo. 



I\Iohegan, Mquoh. 
Natick, Jfosq. 
Nairaganset, 3Iosk. 
Algonkin, Macqua. 
Chippeway, MachwaJi. 



A Bear. 



Knisteneaux, Masqua. 
Sbawancse, Mniiquah. 
Delaware, Machk. 
Menomonies, Ouwashah. 
]\liami, Moskway. 



NOTES. 181 



Water. 



Mohejian, Nbey, Wppeli. 
Natick, Nippe. 
Narrapfansct, Nip. 
Norruigcwock, Nabee. 
rciio])scot, Kncppl^ Nippee, 
St. Francis, Nehbee, Rupee. 



Alp;onkin, Neepee, Nipi, Nipei. 
Chippcway, Nebbi, Nippee. 
KnisteneaTix, Nepee. 
Messisauffus, Nip)pee. 
Miami, Napmj. 



Notwithstanding this radical affinity of many of the 
Indian languages, this identity of many words, yet there 
is also a great dissimilarity between them. 

Mr. George Catlin, in his remarkable volumes concern- 
ing the American Indians, expresses his belief that of 
the 48 tribes, which he visited, 30 had languages dis- 
tinct and radically difFerent. 

While Dr. Edwards regarded the Mohegan as the 
standard Indian language, Mr. Heckewelder, a Mission- 
ary to the Delawares, regarded the Lenni Lennape or 
Delaware as the standard language ; " each considered 
the particular dialect, with which he happened to be 
most familiar, as the principal or standard language, and 
the rest as branches or dialects of it." 

Perhaps the reader will be satisfied, that Dr. Edwards 
is right, and that the claims of the Mohegan are superior 
to those of the Delaware, from the following considera- 
tions. 

Mr. John Pickering has published a vocabulary of 45 
words in 14 languages supposed to be of a common stock, 
in which ' to die,' and ' dead' are in Mohegan Nip and 
Ncpoo, and in Delaware they are Angel, and Angelluk. 

On examining the other dialects, the Munsee has An- 
gellowoagan for ' to die,' and the Nanticoke has Angel. 



182 NOTES. 

No other language has any similar word. But corre- 
sponding to the Mohegan for ' dead,' Nepoo, the Shaw- 
anese has Nepwa ; the Narraganset has Nippitch ewo ; 
the Massachusetts has Nuppoo ; and the Chippeway has 
Neepoo. 

And corresponding to the Mohegan Nip or Neep, ' to 
die/ the Narraganset has Nippitch ewo ; the Massachu- 
setts has Ut-nuppun ; the Algonkin has Nip or Nipowen ; 
the Chippeway has Nip ; and the Knisteneaux has Ne- 
pew. 

' A Bear' in Mohegan is Mquoh and in Delaware 
Machk. The Narraganset has Mosk and the Massachu- 
setts also ; but the Shawanese, Algonkin, Chippeway, 
and Knisteneaux have Mack-wah or Musk-quaw in two 
syllables, like the Mohegan. 

' A beaver ' is Amisque in Mohegan, also in Knisten- 
eaux ; Amik in Algonkin and Chippeway. The Dela- 
ware has Tamaque, the Shawanese has Amaquah, the 
Munsee has Amochk ; the Nanticoke has Nataque ; the 
Narraganset has Tummock ; the Massachusetts Tum- 
munk; the Penobscot Toumakoi; the Norridgewock 
Temakwa ; and the St. Francis Temarqua. Here the 
Delaware has the strongest party. 

On the other hand, the Mohegan Hpoon for ' winter ' is 
supported by a similar word in the Nanticoke, Narragan- 
set, Massachusetts, Penobscot, Norridgewock, St. Francis, 
Algonkin, Chippeway, and Knisteneaux, — while the 
Delaware Lowan for winter has the support only of 
Munsee. 

Metooque for wood in Mohegan has in the other Ian- 



NOTES. 183 

guages Mehtug, Wudtuckqun, MIttick, Meteek, Mistick, — 
"while the Delaware Tachan has only the support of Ne- 
taukun in the Messlsaugas. 

The Mohegan Pumisseh for ' go ' has a similar word in 
five languages, while the Delaware Aal for ' go ' stands 
alone. 

Mannito in Mohegan means ' spirit ; ' so in Algonkin, 
and Chippeway ; and Mattanit in Massachusetts ; but the 
Delaware has Tschipey, tschitsehank, with the solitary 
support of Tsee-e-p in Nanticoke. 

On the whole, from this comparison it is evident, that 
the Mohegan has a greater alEnity to more dialects and 
to more important ones, than the Delaware, and it seems 
but an act of justice to regard the Mohegan as the lead- 
ing and standard language in the northern part of Amer- 
ica. 

It should be remembered, that at the north there is 
one language entirely distinct from the Mohegan dialects, 
and that is the Iroquois, formerly of the interior of New 
York, including the five nations — the Mohawks, the 
Oneidas, the Onondagas, the Senecas, and Cayugas. 
When the Tuscaroras of North Carolina joined them, 
they were called the six nations. The Dutch called 
these Indians the Maquaas. 

It has been claimed by some of our distinguished 
writers, that the Algonkin should be regarded as the 
leading language of the central parts of our country 
from the eastern sea-board to the Mississippi. But I per- 
ceive no good reasons for the allowance of this claim. 
The Mohegan language of New York, Connecticut, and 



184 , NOTES. 

the Hoosatunnuk valley has been known from the early 
settlements, also the Narraganset of Rhode Island, and 
the Natick of Massachusetts, in which was early printed 
EHot's complete translation of the Bible. Either of these 
languages, as well as the Delaware, it would seem, has 
claims superior to the Algonkin. 

This term was used by La Hontan, a French officer, 
who went to Quebec in 1683, and for four years was 
stationed at different forts from Chambly up to the falls 
of St. Mary. He was at Green Bay in 1G89, and thence 
he proceeded to the Mississippi. His travels were pub- 
lished in 1705 ; some of his accounts are the inventions 
of a traveller. His brief vocabulary of the Algonkin 
has no great authority, for Charlevoix says, that Sagard, 
Cartier, and La Hontan " took at random a few words 
from the Huron and others from the Algonkin tongues, 
which they very ill remembered, and which often signi- 
fied something very different from what they imagined." 
According to La Hontan himself, the insignificance of 
the Algonkin nation was such, when he travelled among 
them, that the whole number did not amount to two hun- 
dred souls. It is obvious, then, that the word Algonkin 
has no claim to be the generic name to indicate the pre- 
vailing dialect of many thousands of the Indians of the 
east and the north. It does not appear from what par- 
ticular band of Indians the name was taken, although the 
Encyclopedia Americana speaks of them as living on the 
Assiniboin or Rainy Lake, and Prairie de Portage, 
amounting to 600. " They are in the general practice of 
polygamy, and much given to the use of intoxicating 
liquors ; — they are declining, and in a miserable state." 



NOTES. 185 

Modern writers say, that the Algonkins, the Chippe- 
ways, and Ojibwas are precisely the same ; then why 
not remove the confusion, which has been introduced by 
the use of the three terms, by rejecting the words Al- 
gonkin and Ojibwa and using only the common, well- 
known name of Chippeway ? Yet of late there has 
been invented the new term Algic, as though it was the 
root of Algonkin, and this is employed to comprise the 
host of languages spread over most of the United States ; 
but it is a word of no more advantage or authority in 
this respect, than would be Chippie or Ojibbic, fashioned 
from the other names of this tribe. Accepting, then, the 
well-known name of Chippeway, and carefully distin- 
guishing it from the more northern Chepewyan, the ques- 
tion comes, why should not the old Mohegan of New 
York, Hudson River, and the sea-board be the general 
term, if any is wanted, to denote the cognate languages, 
rather than the Chippeway of the lakes and of the north- 
west interior ? 

In his arrangement of the Indian tribes. La Hontan 
gives first the names of the several tribes in Acadia ; — 
next, those on the St. Lawrence, from the sea to Mon- 
treal, — the Papinachois, Montagnois, Gaspesiens, Abena- 
kis of Sciller, and Algonkins, — then, those on Lake 
Huron, Outaouas, Nockes, Missiaugues, Attekamek, Out- 
chipoues, called the Sauteurs ; — further, on the borders 
of Lake Illinois, the Illinois of Chegakou, Oumamis, 
Maskoutens, Kickapous, Outagamis, Malomimis, Pout- 
eouatamis, Ojatimons, Sakis. He also mentions other 
tribes. For what reason, it may be asked, can the word 



186 NOTES. 

Algonkin have been selected to stand as the representa- 
tive language of all these tribes or Indian nations ? 

As a subdivision of the Northern Indians there is one 
name, that of the Abenakis, which has been often em- 
ployed and which requires consideration. It is main- 
tained by Mr. Heckeweldcr, that the Delawares along 
the Atlantic between the Hudson and the Potomac were 
called by the western and northern Indians Wapanachki, 
corrupted into Abenaki, Abenaquis, meaning East- 
landers, " people at the rising of the sun." But this 
may be an error ; for Father Ralle had before given the 
name to some tribes in Maine, especially to the Nor- 
ridgewogs, among whom he lived, and whose vocabulary 
is published as the Abnaki. Other tribes were the 
Ameriscoggans and the Penobscots. These, and some 
other tribes in Maine might more properly than the 
Delawares be called ' Eastlanders,' if such be the mean- 
ing of Abenaki. The Openangos of La Hontan mean 
the Abenaukis. 

In 1812 Mr. Schermerhorn made a report concerning 
the Indians cast of the Mississippi and north of the 
Ohio to the Lakes, in which he estimated them at about 
19,000, of which the Chippeways made only 1,000. 
The other equal tribes were the Wyandots, Ottaways, 
Delawares, Miamies, Kickapoos ; the still larger tribes 
were the Putawatamies, Sauks, Foxes, Winnebagoes, and 
Menomencs. Of the Indians in New England and New 
York he made no estimate. Perhaps the Chippeways 
have been so situated, as to be brought more in contact 
with the travellers along the lakes and the agents of our 
government ; hence the prominence given to this tribe. 



NOTES. 187 

In examining the totems, or pictorial signatures of tlie 
Abenakis and their allies, in all nineteen or twenty, among 
which is that of the Algonkins, there is nothing in the last 
to distinguish it from the others or to indicate any supe- 
riority. Indeed, the image of a frog will not be regarded 
as of so high a dignity as that of the eagle, the fox, the 
elk, and of other animals. Mr. McKenney found at the 
head of an Indian grave a pine board with the form of 
an elk cut in it, " doubtless the totem of the band, to 
which the deceased had belonged." That band, as ap- 
pears from the totems now before me, was the Pentu- 
gooay. From the Algonkin totem I should conclude, 
that it indicated a small clan, as was indicated by the 
other totems. 

It is a very remarkable fact in regard to the Indian 
languages of North and South America, supposed by 
Adelung to be 1200 in number, that although they may 
be divided into classes, which bear no resemblance to 
each other in words, yet they are all alike in a peculiar 
grammatical structure, by which they are distinguished 
from all the languages of Europe, and by which they 
have an affinity with the Hebrew and other languages 
of the East. The following illustrative examples may 
be given. 

The Mohegan, representing the dialects from the At- 
lantic in New England to the Mississippi ; the Chero- 
kee, representing the languages of Florida ; the Pocon- 
chi, representing those of Central America, near 
Guatemala ; the Orinoco languages ; and the Arauca- 
nian, representing the dialects of Chili, are dissimilar in 



188 NOTES. 

words, but they are all alike in the use of personal pre- 
fixes and suffixes to nouns and verbs. 

In Mohegan, the pronouns I, thou, and he, are Neah, 
Keah, Uwoh, the first letters of which, N, K, and U, are 
prefixed to nouns ; as tmohhecan, a hatchet ; ndumhecan 
is my hatchet ; ktumhecan, thy hatchet ; utumhecan, his 
hatchet. 

So in Cherokee, galuiha, I am tying it ; haluiha, thou 
art tying it ; kahluiha, he is tying it. 

In Poconchi, the prefixes are V, A, and R : thus, ixim, 
corn; vixim, my corn; avixim, thy corn; rixim, his 
corn. Or, if the noun begins with a consonant, the pre- 
fixes are Nu, A, and Ru : as pat, a house ; nupat, my 
house ; apat, thy house ; rupat, his house. In like man- 
ner tat, father ; holom, head ; cam, hand ; car, fish ; tsi, 
dog. 

In Orinoco, apoto means a rule ; japatoi, my rule ; 
avapotoi, thy rule ; itapotoi, his rule. 

In the Araucanian or Chili tongue the pronouns are 
inche, I ; eimi, you ; teye, which. The word elun means 
to give ; it also means I give, rendering the use of inche 
unnecessary. Then we have, elun, I give ; eluimi, thou 
givest ; elui, he gives. In the case of the last two words 
the pronouns are affixed, instead of being prefixed. 

In Hebrew the pronouns are ani, ka, as suffix, and hu, 
or hua. !Ni is the suffix for me ; k or ka for the second 
person ; and vau, the letter u and hu are the suffixes for 
he and him. Nu expresses us ; so in Mohegan Nuh is 
used, as noghnuh, our father. 

Mr. Nuttall has pointed out the resemblance in Ian- 



NOTES. 189 

guage, habits, and morals between the aborigines of North 
America and the Tartar tribes of the Russian Empire. 
From the peculiarity of structure in the American lan- 
guages, distinguishing them from those of Europe, it 
may perhaps be justly concluded, that all the American 
Indians had a common Asiatic origin, in accordance with 
the teaching of the divine word as to the origin of the 
whole human family. 

In the Mohegan there is no diversity of gender. The 
same words express he and she, him and her. Hence 
these Indians in speaking English are apt to say, if one 
was speaking of his wife — ' he sick, he gone away.» 
Thus nsconmoo means not only, ' he is malicious,' but 
also ' she is malicious.' . . The prefixes and suffixes 
are always used, although other nominatives and accusa- 
tives are expressed, for which reason the Indian speaking 
English retains his own idiom, however strange to our 
ears. Instead of saying ' John loves Peter,' the Indian 
says, 'John he loves him Peter,' John nduhwhunuw 
Peteran. 

The Llohegan language may be regarded as extending 
from New York island over Connecticut to Narraganset, 
including Long Island, and from the Hudson, the old 
Mohegan River, as high up as Albany, to the Hoosatun- 
nuk valley. Various specimens of the language are the 
following. 

Words from the Montauk chief on Long Island by 
John Lyon Gardiner. Massakeat mund, great good 
spirit ; saunchen, king ; seaunskq, queen ; wonnux, white 
man ; wonnuxk, a white woman ; wewauchum, Indian 



190 NOTES. 

corn ; mausqueseets, beans ; ausgook, pumpkins ; quau- 
baug, a round clam ; suxawaug, a long clam ; niep, 
water ; keagh or eage, land ; yunksquauli, a young wo- 
man ; massakeat mund sumana Inshun wewaclium, 
Great Spirit give Indian corn. Inchun, an Indian ; to- 
baugsk, tobacco ; cheaganan a hatchet ; mashuee, a ca- 
noe; squashees, a little girl; weenai, an old woman; 
weadamus, roast corn ; cutdaus, boiled corn ; seaump, 
pounded corn ; cheesk, small ; chiauk, large ; weegan, 
good ; muttadeaio, bad ; the numerals, nuckit, neeze, 
nisk, yuaw, nepaw ; conma, nusus, swans, passecucond, 
jujunck. 

An Indian woman, named Sarah Mawweek, born in 
East Haven, lived in 1787 at Derby Bridge, which she 
called Naukatungk, and gave to President Stiles the fol- 
lowing words — yet ignorant of the name of her tribe. 
Kuuh tah, fire ; toof ku, night ; kee sup, day ; tookh, tree ; 
k't schwak, a great tree ; iskkaheeg, cider ; m'nukqh 
wuk, the seven stars ; awaussuse, the ursa major, a bear ; 
oopht, a deer; n'pee, water; shunneegh, a squirrel; 
Mioonkh took. East Haven ; quinnepyooghq, the river ; 
Mautunsq, West rock ; ruink, or rink, man ; weenigh, 
woman ; kochee, old man ; weeneece, old woman ; see- 
pooh, river ; kuthun, sea ; m'nuksquo, rock ; wat-chooh, 
mountain ; woosquat, walnut tree ; unkhkupee, rum ; 
pawtumpung, break of day. 

The following list of Mohegan words, obtained from 
the Indians near Norwich, was given me in 1831, by 
Sarah Lanman Huntington, then their Sunday religious 
teacher, afterwards the wife of Rev. Dr. Eli Smith of 



NOTES. 



191 



Syria, now reaping her reward. It is dated at Moheeg, 
wbich was the Indian name of their village at Montville, 
on the River Thames, formerly the Mohegan River. A 
bear, wossoos ; eye, nee ; ear, tauog; girl, squassise ; he, 
noheen; his heart, wuttah ; his head, noquunnuk; thou, 
keen ; his teeth, weebuck ; thank you, taubot ; hair, wish- 
agan ; I, neen ; water, nip ; how, tuneh ; elder sister, 
neeticks ; river, osseed ; dead, nuppoo ; devil, jubi ; fire, 
yote; marry, ocksoo; shoe, moecussin; her husband, 
wasak ,- where, phibug ; winter, uppoon ; numerals, 
nghud, nees, chusoke, yough, nuppa ; n'quittasuch, nei- 
suck, ghuhoosk, bossoohoogan, biog. 

If any one is curious to make now a comparison with 
brief specimens of the Plymouth and Virginia languages, 
they are here given. The following are all the Indian 
words of Massasoit and the Indians, connected with Plym- 
outh, which have been preserved. 

Kiehtan or Ketan, God. 

Saginius, Sachem, king, prince, 
chief. 

Towaum, friend. 

Pinese, a counsellor. 

Maske, probably mosJc, bear. 

Sachimo comaco, a Pnnce's 
house. 

Maskiet, physic. 

Commoco, feast and dance. 

Witeo, an ordinary house. 

Squaw-Sachim, the SachenVs 
loife. 

Neen womasu sagimus, my leav- 
ing Sachem. 

Keen Winsuow? Art thou 
Winslow f 

Ahhe, yes. 

Matta neen wonckanet naraen, 

This dialect, it would 



Winsnow! Winslow, I shall 

never see thee again. 
Hobbamock, the devil. 
Quatchet, walk abroad. 
Ho wok, lam taken. 
Askooke, the snake. 
Wobsacuck, the eagle. 
Powah, a juggler. 
Pniese, (Pinese?) chief. 
Mazzium, Indian Corn. 
Neen Squaes, lam a girl. 
Chise, old man. 
Kiehchise, a man of exceeding 

age. 
Hinnaim namen, by and by it 

should see. 
" michen, it should eat. 

Matta cuts, but not speak. 



appear from these words, is 



192 NOTES. 

Strongly allied to the Narraganset, as given by Koger 
Williams, or is the same. 

The following are a few words from the Virginia Pow- 
hattan and Pampticoe languages. 

1. Poioliaitan. 



Broken maize, homony. 
House, yehaiohan, wigwaum. 
Shoes, mockasin. 
Axe, iomahaiuJc. 
Knives, 2^<^mesauk. 
Piclvfixes, tockahock. 
Water, suckahanna. 
Friends, netoppew. 



Sun, keskough. 

Night, toppgough. 

Star, pmimiiahuwp. 

God, okee. 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, necut, nkigJi, miss, 

yough,2^((^'^"ske. 
Cliief, werowance. 
Grey goose, colionh. 



Axe, iomahick. 
Tobacco, liookpau. 
Water, umpe. 



2. Pampticoe. 

House, vngwaum. 
Gods, mantoac. 
Shoes, moggison. 



Hariot says, the Virginians have for their idols tem- 
ples, which they call Machicomuck : this is the Mohegan 
for Great House for a Sachem. Machauk means in Mo- 
hegan great, and Sachimo-comaco, as used at Plymouth, 
means Sachem's house. 

Canto I. Stanza 16. 
The trade for furs with the Indians was an important 
source of profit to the first settlers of New England ; and 
this profitable trade has been wonderfully extended to 
the west and the north, and continues to the present day* 
But instead of only the skins of musquash and beaver 
and a few other furred animals, a great variety of valuable 
and costly furs are now carried from America to satisfy 
the claims of fashion in other parts of the world, — such as 
the ermine, the black and silver fox, the sable, the raccoon, 



NOTES. 193 

the fisher, the lynx, the mink, the otter, the squirrel, the 
martin, the bear. As for the supply of buffalo robes 
several hundred thousand buffaloes are killed every year ; 
the race may ere long become extinct. 

Whether " a needment" or not, a pipe is almost in- 
separable from an Indian. The war-pipe is smoked; 
and in holding a treaty the parties concerned must be- 
gin with smoking the pipe of peace. Very beautiful and 
splendid calumets the Indians made of a stone, procured 
only in one place in this country, — from the red pipe- 
stone quarry of the far West, visited and described by 
Mr. George Catlin, by whom I was favored with a speci- 
men. It lies in the latitude of Montreal, 2 or 300 miles 
west of the Falls of St. Anthony. 

Among the Indian " needments" the kettle was very 
important. The Ahkuk or Ohkuke in the Natick lan- 
guage, the kettle, was made of pottery or of stone. The 
only one of stone, which I have ever seen in Massachu- 
setts, was recently ploughed up in Northampton, the In- 
dian Nonotuck, after reposing in the ground nearly 200 
years. In the Narraganset the word is aucuck ; in the 
Chippeway, akeek ; in the Delaware, akeek or aukeek; 
in the Penobscot, kook ; among the Esquimaux, ahkusik. 
My Nonotuck kettle is made of soap-stone and is inter- 
nally about six inches deep and seven in diameter. From 
ear to ear is ten inches. In the centre of one side is an 
oval hole with a neat plug or stopper of the same stone. 
The kettle was often made of clay earth mixed with 
feldspar, quartz, and shells. An akeek of pottery was 
found by Schoolcraft in a cave of the River St. Mary 
13 



194 NOTES. 

Michigan ; it is in the cabinet of the New York Histori- 
cal Society. To this Society I have presented the Non- 
otuck Ahkook as a memento of the Connecticut River In- 
dians, the last of whom, at Nonotuck, recently died. 
She was a native of Mohegan, near Norwich, and a 
niece of Samson Occum, the celebrated Indian preacher. 
The following is the inscription on her marble grave- 
stone. " Sally Maminash, the last of the Indians in this 
town, died Jan. 3, 1853, aged about 88 years. She was 
a Christian woman of eminent faith and piety ; and in 
her age and want she found noble Christian friends, 
whose reward is with God." Mrs. Sophia Clap deserves 
honorable remembrance for giving a home to Sally for 
many years ; she died Nov. 2, 1846, and her husband 
Warham Clap, died Oct. 7, 1852, aged 82. 

The love of Onkuiipee^ Sfc. — Canto I. st. 16. 
The supply of the Indian appetite with rum or 
whiskey has been a great cause of the continued degrada- 
tion and misery of our copper-colored brethren. Speak- 
ing of the Chippeways, whom he saw on the shores of 
Lake Superior, Mr. McKenney says, "nothing can ex- 
ceed the poverty and wretchedness of these people, and 
their love of tobacco and whiskey. One of the oid 
men, who came ashore out of one of these canoes, said 
he had eaten nothing for two days, and yet his first re- 
quest was for tobacco. In general it is for whiskey. To- 
bacco is the Lethean antidote for all their exposures and 
wants. An Indian loves to soothe his brain with it, and, 
as if seeking to do this, never smokes without blowing 



NOTES. 195 

the fumes in streams from his nostrils as well as his 
mouth." The pipe is two feet and a half long, and the 
bowl rests on the ground. 

I am not sure but among the whites there is a pretty- 
close connection between the smoke of tobacco and the 
flames of the fire-water ; for who will be found to be so 
fond of strong drink as great smokers ? And if it be 
true, as it doubtless is, that the free sale of fire-water 
and the ready supply of it to the slaves of a debasing 
appetite is one great cause of crime and misery in the 
community, how can any man of common sense and 
common benevolence doubt the right of the people to 
require of their legislators the enactment of prohibitory 
and efficacious laws ? We have known laws to reward 
the killing of crows and to punish the killing of robins, 
because the former tear up the corn and the latter eat 
up the insects, which are injurious to the farmer. Will 
not a small share of the intellectual power, which ap- 
proves of these laws, approve also of laws, interdicting 
the sale of a poison, which overthrows man's reason and 
creates an army of criminals and paupers in the com- 
munity ? 

Canto I. Stanza 18. 
The name of John Sergeant should be held in honor 
in connection with Eliot, the Mayhews, and other friends 
and teachers of the Indians. He was a native of New- 
ark, a graduate of Yale in 1729, and after being a tutor 
four years, he went to Hoosatunnuk as a preacher to the 
Indians in Oct. 1734. He remained with them as their 



196 NOTES. 

teaclier till his death July 27, 1749, aged 48, the families 
of the red men under his care having increased from 8 
or 10 to 53, the number of souls being 218, which num- 
ber was afterwards increased to 400. — Jonathan Ed- 
wards succeeded him as a minister both to the whites 
and the Indians until his removal to become the Presi- 
dent of Princeton College. 

After the emigration of these Indians, in 1785 and 
1788, from Stockbridge to New Stockbridge, near Utica, 
New York, Mr. Sergeant's son, John Sergeant, was to 
them a missionary, in all 60 years ; he died Sept. 8, 1824. 
The missionary spirit is not extinct in Mr. S.'s descend- 
ants ; Mrs. De Forest, of Stockbridge, has lately returned 
on account of ill health from a mission to Syria of 13 
years. 

At WnaUukook there liv'cla loortliy chief. — Cant. I. st. 22. 
In 1734 theHoosatunnuk Indians lived in two places, — 
in Stockbridge and Sheffield, — 10 miles apart. The 
settlement, in what is now Stockbridge, was called 
Wnahktukook — meaning Great Meadow ; — and that in 
Sheffield near the line of Great Barrington was called 
Skatekook. At the former place the chief man was 
Kunkapot, to whom Governor Belcher gave the com- 
mission of captain about 1 734 ; and at the latter place 
the chief man was Lieutenant Umpachenee, who died 
Aug. 10, 1751. Nov. 2, 1735 Mr. Sergeant baptized 
Kunkapot by the name of John, his wife Mary, and his 
eldest daughter. The next Sunday he baptized the rest 
of his family; and Nov. 16, the lieutenant by the name 



NOTES. 197 

of Aaron, his wife Hannah, and the rest of his family. 
Of him Mr. Sergeant says — " he is a clear-headed, smart 
man, of a deep reach, and pleasant humor ; and is one 
of the best speakers we hear ; is free in conversation, 
and talks excellently well." In 1736 the lieutenant 
and the few Indian families, living with him, removed to 
Wnahktukook. 

Other Indians were Ebenezer and Sarah, who chose 
to be married after the English manner : Wnampee and 
his wife, who were baptized, as was Tohtohlcukhoonaut, 
the lieutenant's brother, and Nawnawnekenuk, a princi- 
pal man, usually called Nawneek. 

Monument Mountain, which is chiefly in Great Bar- 
rington, just below Wnahtukook, is not unknown to 
song. — As William C Bryant spent years of his youth 
and early manhood on the banks of the Hoosatunnuk, 
his poetry breathes of the scenery around hini, and of 
the events of the valley, as in the pieces, in his volume 
of poems, 1834, entitled 'Monument Mountain,' 'I 
broke the Spell,' ' An Indian at the burial-place of his 
Fathers,' ' Green River,' and ' A Walk at Sunset.' 

Could the Indians now, in this year 1856, revisit their 
old abodes and places of resort in Berkshire county, 
with what astonishment would they look upon the mighty 
changes, which have been produced by patient industry, 
by enterprise, by science and genius, by inventive pow- 
ers, and the generous and profuse outlays of wealth ? A 
wilderness has been changed into a paradise. A magnifi- 
cent temple of science stands at the northern gate, — 
fit companion of its near associate, a towering moun- 



198 NOTES. 

tain height, — in which presides a very learned and much 
honored son of Berkshire. In the central Pontoosuc is 
a large and prosperous Institution for the culture of the 
female mind and heart, — with a multitude of other 
schools of learning scattered over the whole region. 
Everywhere are the meeting-houses of stone, and brick, 
and wood with their spires pointing high upwards to the 
skies. The marble of Berkshire shines out resplen- 
dently in the magnificent structures of our cities, and in 
the wide-scattered, humble memorials of the dead. Its 
lime is boundless, and its iron is everywhere doing its 
mighty work or smoothing the way of the swift travel- 
ler. Its immense production of paper creates a re- 
pository of intellect for the whole country. Its flocks 
are associated with the finest of cloths. Improvement 
is everywhere making its rapid advances. Could an 
ancient Indian revisit the beloved Hoosatunnuk, he 
would see at " Brookside," reared in the wilderness oc- 
cupied by his fathers, one mile from the village of Great 
Barrington, a costly and splendid mansion, the residence 
of one retiring from the accumulation of wealth in the 
city to the quietude and varied delights of a residence 
in the country. With what amazement would he visit 
in that mansion a gallery of costly and splendid paint- 
ings by foreign and American artists, one of them a 
large historical picture of Washington at the battle of 
Monmouth, by Leutze, who also painted Washington 
crossing the Delaware ? And would not his heart burn 
with gratitude to Mr. David Leavitt, who in making ex- 
cavations for his buildings, as he found the bones of 



NOTES. • 199 

about 30 Indians in sitting postures witli tlieir faces to 
the west, had tliem carefully removed and placed in a 
new burying-ground with a neat marble monument to 
their memory ? With what wonder would he look upon 
that huge cascade barn, unequalled perhaps in the world, 
with " Koaring Brook " rushing in the midst of it, and 
accomplishing a multitude of agricultural labors, else- 
where done with human hands ? — But more than all the 
wonders of nature and of art he would behold throngs 
of men, women, and youth of high intelligence and true 
virtue, with minds irradiated with eternal truth, and 
hearts glowing with love to God and man, the redeemed 
disciples of Jesus Christ, and the heirs of immortal 
glory, — a more happy vale, perhaps, than any of its mag- 
nitude on the face of the earth, and whose sons and 
daughters have carried the light of the gospel to the 
ends of the world. 

A wampum belt compress'd her mantlets fold. 

Canto I. St. 26. 
The use of wampum by way of ornament in various 
articles of dress furnished a fine proof of taste and skill 
on the part of the Indian women. The wampum is a 
small bead or cylinder, made of a sea shell, a quarter of 
an inch long, and strung together, and thus attached by 
way of ornament to a leather belt or other article of 
clothing. When the beads were in strings or unstrung, 
they were passed as money, called peag. Commonly 
these were white ; and hence the name of wampum 
from wampi, white; but when made of the black or 



200 NOTES. 

purple part of a shell, they were of double value. The 
white were made of the metauhock, or periwinkle, and 
the black of the paquauhock. Sucki meaning black, 
they called this black money suckauhock. Before their 
acquaintance with the English they drilled or bored the 
shells with stones ; but afterwards with awls. At one 
time it required 450 beads to make a strand, worth a 
dollar and a half. Speaking of these beads, Josselyn 
said, " they make many curious works with them to 
adorn the persons of their Sagamores and principal men 
and young women, as belts, girdles, tablets, borders for 
their women's hair, bracelets, necklaces, and links to 
hang in their ears. The English merchant giveth them 
ten shillings a fathom for their white and as much more 
for their blue beads." 

The wampum was tastefully employed in making 
beautiful bracelets, black and white in stripes, nearly 
a yard long, and worn about the wrist, or in ornament- 
ing the leather moccasins or other parts of dress, and in 
decorating their various bark baskets. 

The wampum strings were also woven into girdles or 
belts, the black and white arranged in squares or other 
figures. This was a rich and elegant part of dress ; — and 
valuable belts were also noble and acceptable presents. 

The moccasins were beautiful Indian shoes, made of 
soft deerskin, without soles, with a kind of lappets on 
each side, ornamented with wampum, or porcupine quills 
dyed of red, yellow, and other colors. 



NOTES. 201 

Canto 1. Stanza 29. 
The "word Mohekun I have formed by a slight varia- 
tion of the generic word Mohegan, so that the bearer of 
this name may fitly and by an easy association be viewed 
as the representative of his tribe. 

Canto I. Stanza 41. 
I should be glad to introduce the poetic nightingale 
and sky-lark into my verse ; but unhappily they do not 
belong to America. Nor is the wonderful mocking-bird 
heard in New England. We have reason to be delighted 
with the hearty robin and cheerful cat-bird, and other 
thrushes, as well as with the Baltimore oriole, more recent- 
ly known amongst us. John Gorgas, of Wilmington, Del., 
imported 42 sky-larks, and liberated them In March and 
April, 1853, hoping they would increase in this country. 

Such seem the rules, to modern poets given. 

Canto I. St. 51. 
That modern poets, believers In the Christian religion, 
should address In their writings the heathen gods, as if 
they were real beings, it is not easy to account for, un- 
less it be owing to their perfect familiarity, by reason of 
their education^ with the polytheism of the pagans. 
The following are a few Instances : — 

Gray addresses Adversity as the " daughter of Jove," 
and he calls her " dread goddess." 
Collins speaks to Liberty : — 
" O, goddess — 
Let not my shell's misguided power 



202 NOTES. 

E'er draw tliy sad, tliy mindful tears." 
Thomson also deifies Liberty — 

" Oh, gracious goddess ! reinspire my song." 
Akenside calls upon the "goddess of the lyre" — 
" eternal harmony " — to descend. 

Armstrong does not explain what he means, when he 
says — 

" Ye, guardian gods, on whom the fates depend 
Of tottering Albion." 
Campbell, in his Gertrude, says — 
" O, Love !— 

And here thou art a god indeed divine." 
All this is very much in the manner, in which the 
Roman Catholics address their worship to the Virgin 
Mary. For them, however, it may be said, that they 
believe or endeavor to believe, that their idolatry is in- 
nocent. Without doubt the poets believe, that their 
worship is very idle, and means nothing. 

Canto I. Stanza 52. 

The Indian canoe, carrying two or more persons, is 
often very beautiful, and is a remarkable specimen of 
Indian ingenuity. Josselyn, long ago, gave the following 
description : — 

" Their canoes are made of birch. They shape them 
with flat ribs of white cedar, and cover them with large 
sheets of birch-bark, sewing them through with strong 
threads of spruce roots or white cedar, and pitch them 
with a mixture of turpentine and the hard rosin, that is 
dried with the air on the outside of the bark of fir-trees." 



NOTES. 203 

" If their canoe overturns, they can swim naturally, 
striking their paws under their throat like a dog, and 
not spreading their arms, as we do ; they turn their 
canoe again, and go into it in the water." 

Mr. McKenney describes one of the larger canoes, in 
which he travelled on Lake Superior in 1826, as follows: 
" Its length is thirty feet and its breadth across the widest 
part about four feet. It is about two and a half feet 
deep in the centre — its bottom is rounded and has no 
keel. The materials, of which this canoe is built, are 
birch-bark and red cedar, the whole fastened together 
with wattap and gum, without a nail or bit of iron of 
any sort to confine the parts. The entire outside is 
bark — the bark of the birch tree — and where the edges 
join at the bottom or along the sides, they are sewn with 
this wattap, and then along the line of the seam it is 
gummed. Next to the bark are pieces of cedar, shaven 
thin, not thicker than the blade of a knife — these run 
horizontally, and are pressed against the bark by means 
of these ribs of cedar, which fit the shape of the canoe, 
bottom and sides, and coming up to the edges are pointed 
and let into a rim of cedar of about an inch and a lialf 
wide, and an inch thick, that forms the gunwale of 
the canoe, and to which by means of the wattap the 
bark and the ribs are all sewed; the wattap being 
wrapped over the gunwale and passed through the 
bark and ribs. Across the canoe are bars, some 
five or six, that keep the canoe in shape. These are 
fastened by bringing their ends against the gunwale, 



204 NOTES. 

or edge, and fastening tliem to it with wattap. The 
paddles are of red cedar, and are very light." 

The seats are swung across by means of two pieces of 
rope passing through each end from the gunwale. The 
wattap are strips or threads of the roots of the spruce or 
cedar, and gum Is taken from the pine and boiled, when 
it becomes hard. Such a large canoe carries about a 
dozen persons and five hundred pounds of baggage. 
Much of the work in building a canoe is imposed upon 
the squaws. " From the building of a lodge to the boil- 
ing of a kettle, and from the making of their husbands' 
moccasins to the construction of their canoes, and to the 
gumming and sewing them, when they require it, is an 
Indian woman's employment." 

Canto II. Stanza 7. 
As to the religious opinions of the Hoosatunnuk In- 
dians, some were atheists ; " others believed the sun to 
be God, or at least the body or residence of the Deity ; 
but now they generally believed the existence of one 
supreme, invisible Being, the maker of all things. They 
believed the seven stars were so many Indians translated 
to heaven in a dance ; that the stars in Charles's wain are 
so many men hunting a bear ; that they begin the chase 
in the spring and hold it all summer ; by the fall they 
have wounded It, and that the blood turns the leaves 
red; by the winter they have^klUed it, and the snow is 
made of its fat ; which, being melted by the heat of the 
summer, makes the sap of trees." — Hopkins. 



NOTES. 205 

Canto II. Stanza 8. 
Rev. Samuel Hopkins, of Springfield, who wrote the 
Historical Memoirs of these Indians in 1752, describes 
their houses as follows : " A wigwaum is an Indian 
house, in building of which they take small flexible poles 
and stick them into the ground round such space, as they 
intend for the bigness of their house, whether greater 
or less ; those poles they bend from each side and fasten 
them together, making an arch overhead. Then they 
fasten small sticks to them, cutting the poles at right an- 
gles, which serve for ribs. After which they cover the 
whole with the bark of trees, leaving a hole in the top 
for the smoke to go out, and at one or both ends to go in 
and out." 

A rough harJc altar, plac'd on wigwam's Jloor. 

Canto H. st. 8. 

Some of the various uses, made by Indian ingenuity 
of the comparatively flexible and beautiful birch bark, 
are explained by Josselyn : — 

" Delicate sweet dishes they make of birch bark, sewed 
with threads, drawn from spruce or white cedar roots, 
and garnished on the outside with flourished works, and 
on the brims with glistening quills, taken from the porcu- 
pine, and dyed, some black, others red. The white are 
natural. Kettles, too, they make of birchen bark, which 
they used before they traded with the French for copper 
kettles, by which you may apparently see, that necessity 
was at first the mother of all inventions." 



206 NOTES. 

Dark faces round tlie gloomy cahin lower. 

Canto II. St. 8. 

Josselyn, who arrived in 1663, and lived in this coun- 
try several years, and was conversant with the Indians, 
published New England Rarities, also an account of two 
Voyages to New England. His description of the ap- 
pearance, character, and manners of the Indians is as 
follows : — 

" They are tall and handsome-timbered people, out- 
wristed, pale and lean, Tartarian visaged, black-eyed, 
which is accounted the strongest for sight, and generally 
black-haired, both smooth and curled, wearing it long. 
No beards or very rarely ; their teeth are very white, 
short, and even ; they account them the most necessary 
and best parts of man. And as the Austrians are known 
by their great lips, the Bavarians by their pokes under 
their chins, the Jews by their goggle-eyes, so the Indians 
by their flat noses ; yet are they not so much depressed, 
as they are to the Southward." 

" The Indesses, that are young, are some of them 
very comely, having good features, their faces plump 
and round, and generally plump of their bodies, as are 
the men likewise, and as soft and smooth as a mole-skin, 
of reasonable, good complexions, but that they dye 
themselves tawny ; many pretty brunettoes and spider- 
fingered lasses may be seen amongst them." — "Very 
fingurative or thievish, and bold, importunate beggars, 
both men and women^ guilty of misoxeny, or hatred to 
strangers, a quality appropriated to the old Brittains; 
all of them cannibals, eaters of human flesh." This 



NOTES. 207 

last trait is not very certain, though he asserts, that while 
he was in the country they seized a boat-load of men 
and eat them up ; and notwithstanding he had read, that 
" they would not eat a Spaniard, till they had kept him 
two or three days to wax tender, because their flesh was 
hard." In this case they did not have so good fare, as 
the heathen Irish, who, as Josselyn says, " used to feed 
upon the buttocks of boys." 

" Their age they reckon by moons, and their actions 
by sleeps ; as, if they go a journey, or are to do any 
other business, they will say — three sleeps me walk, or 
two or three sleeps me do such a thing, — that is, in two 
or three days." 

" Their drink they fetch from the spring, and were 
not acquainted with other, until the French and Eng- 
lish traded with that cursed liquor, called rum, rum-bul- 
lion, or kill-devil. This they love dearly, and will part 
with all they have to their bare skins for it. Thus, 
instead of bringing them to the knowledge of Christian- 
ity, we have taught them to commit the beastly and 
crying sins of our nation for a little profit." 

Canto II. Stanza 9. 
Rev. G. Hawley says : " I have observed in every 
pait of the country and among every tribe of Indians 
such heaps of stones or sticks. The largest heap is that 
large collection of small stones on the mountain between 
Stockbridge and Great Barrington. We have a sacri- 
fice rock, as it is termed, between Plymouth and Sand- 
wich, to which stones and sticks are always cast by In- 



208 NOTES. 

dians, who pass it. This custom or rite is an acknowl- 
edgment of an invisible being. We may style him the 
unknown God, whom this people worship. This heap is 
his altar." 

Mr. Bryant, in his poems, recites the tradition of a 
young Indian, who from disappointed love threw herself 
down the rocky precipice of Monument Mountain, in 
memorial of whom the stones were supposed to be piled 
up. 

The Dighton or Assonet inscription on a Eock, which 
has persuaded some writers, that America was discovered 
before Columbus, has been satisfactorily explained by 
Ching-wauk, of St. Mary's River, employed in 1839, by 
Mr. Schoolcraft. This Indian, called a prophet, is at 
least skilful in picture-writing. His explanation is, 
that the inscription relates to two nations of the ancient 
Wakenakies of New England, recording the exploits of 
a war captain and prophet. The lynx is a totemic de- 
vice ; the sun is the same, heraldic of the clan. He 
finds a war eamp, pipe, idol, lodge, bow bent, and lance. 
The three crosses denote three dead bodies. 

A totem is the pictorial device or signature of a clan. 
Mr. Schoolcraft enumerates 10 totemic devices, as fol- 
lows : 1. crane; 2. marten; 3. bear; 4. catfish; 5. 
brant ; 6. long-tailed bear ; 7. sturgeon ; 8. spring 
duck; 9. eagle; 10. elk. He speaks of an Indian as 
striking at the totem of a bear, which was on a board in 
a graveyard. 

As his signature Canonicus made the figure of a bow ; 
his nephew, Miantonomo, made that of an arrow. Mo- 



NOTES. 209 

maugum of Quinnipiac or New Haven made the signa- 
ture of a bow and string ; Montowese made that of a 
bow and arrow ; Sawsounk that of what seems to be a 
hatchet ; and by others were used marks of little ex- 
pressiveness. If one may guess from the rough iSgures 
employed, the totem of the Indians of Norridgewock 
was a dog, of Pentugooay an elk, of Aumissookonti an 
eagle, of Maunbesic a turtle, of Pegwauki a goose, of 
Medokteck a fox, of the Micmacs a deer, of Pesmokaunti 
a crane, of the Algonkins a frog, of the Hurons a duck 
or other bird, of the Papinachois a monkey. The Nor- 
akomigoos, Arsikauntegoos, Wauniweenauks, Iroquois, 
Mickmacks, and Mountaineers had unknown animals for 
totems. 

As to the Wakenakies, said to be referred to by the 
Indian, it is not probable, that he ever used the word 
with reference to the supposed old inhabitants of Massa- 
chusetts near Rhode Island. Abenaki is a word, mean- 
ing the east, used by certain French writers to denote 
the Indian tribes in Maine, living to the east of Canada, 
between Quebec and the Atlantic. 

Canto II. Stanza 11. 
Winslow says, " the office and duty of the Powwow is 
to be exercised principally in calling upon the devil and 
curing diseases of the sick and wounded. The com- 
mon people join with him in the exercise of invocation, 
but do but only assent, or, as we term it, say amen to 
that he saith ; yet sometimes break out into a short mu- 
sical note with him. The Powwow is eager and free in 
14 



210 NOTES. 

speech, fierce in countenance, and jolneth many antic 
and laborious gestures with the same over the party dis- 
eased." He pretends, that Hobbamock as a snake, 
askooke, or as an eagle, wobsacuck, sits invisible on his 
shoulder and licks the wound. In his speech " he prom- 
ises to sacrifice many skins of beasts, kettles, hatchets, 
beads, knives, and other the best things they have to the 
fiend, if he will come to help the party diseased. Many 
sacrifices the Indians use, and in some cases kill chil- 
dren." 

Canto 11. Stanza 25—28. 
These catholic miracles of the hermit Clare, St. Dun- 
stan, and St. Ivo, with a multitude of others equally 
marvellous, are found in authentic Catholic books, 
particularly in " the Church History of Brittany," writ- 
ten by Father Cressy, a Benedictine Monk, and published 
by authority in a folio volume, in 1668. A modern 
Catholic writer. Dr. Milner, in his " End of Controversy," 
maintains, that God in every age " has illustrated the 
Catholic church, chiefly by means of his saints, with un- 
deniable miracles." Among his instances, he says, " a 
stupendous miracle took place in Saragossa in 1640, on 
one Michael Pellicer, whose leg having been amputated, 
Le, by his prayers, obtained a new natural leg •," — but he 
does not say, whether it was put on at once, or grew out 
gradually, as the leg of a lobster, which had been torn 
away. Another of his miracles is the instant cure, 
March 10, 1823, at the city of Washington of Mrs. 
Anne Mattingley, of the palsy, by the prayers of prince 



NOTES. 211 

Hohenlolie in Germany, with the aid of a priest to give 
her the consecrated bread. She had been sick six years, 
and was the sister of Capt. Thomas Carberry, Mayor of 
Washington : her cure was deemed by her friends 
" equal to the resuscitation of Lazarus from the grave." 

When new succeeds to old idolatry.— Qe^nio II. st. 29. 
The worship of the Virgin Mary in the established 
Catholic service is most obviously nothing less than idol- 
atry : it is paying to the creature the homage, which is due 
only to God. And what is the bowing down to a piece 
of bread but idolatry ? What else than idolatry is the 
worship of dead saints or of their images, or of a piece 
of wood or of metal in the shape of a cross ? The divine 
commandment most explicitly interdicts the worship of 
any image whatever, and even the making of any image 
of God. Yet among the works of art in the churches 
of Catholic Italy it is not uncommon to find pictures of 
the Almighty, of which even some Protestant travellers 
speak without expressing any surprise or indignant emo- 
tion. Guido painted the Eternal Father and Jesus 
Christ crowning the Virgin, carried by angels to heaven. 
He also painted the Father, borne on clouds, accompa- 
nied by the Holy Spirit, and Cherubims holding the 
cross, on which the Son hangs. This picture is in the 
church at Rome della Trinita di Pellegrini. An en- 
graving was made by Dorigni. Benedetti also painted 
the Father and the Holy Spirit contemplating the infant 
Jesus. From Mr. Hlllard's travels we learn the follow- 
ing facts : Raphael's first fresco is in the church of S. 



212 NOTES. 

Severo at PerugIo,.iii whicli Is " God the Father -with 
two child angels." In the church of San Romano at 
Lucca is a picture, called Madonna della Misericordia, 
by Fra Bartolomeo. " The Virgin stands with uplifted 
hands in the attitude of supplication. Above is God 
the Father with several cherubs. In front are several 
portrait figures. Jf^i old woman in red is admirable." 
" In the same church is another work by him of uncom- 
mon merit: St. Catharine and Mary Magdalen are 
kneeling, and the Almighty above. Mary Magdalen is 
in red and holding a vase— St. Catharine is in a kind of 
monastic robe of yellow — both admirable figures." In 
the Hall of Exchange at Perugio is a fresco, on one side 
of which are " several sibyls and prophets, with the Al- 
mighty in glory above them," painted by Perugino. 

Canto IL Stanza 31. 

As evidence of the power of the gospel among these 
Indians the following facts may be mentioned. 

Hannah Umpachenee, wife of the lieutenant, died 
July 14, 1741, " with a comfortable hope of eternal life, 
spending her last moments in exhorting her husband 
and children to godliness." 

Mary Kunkapot, wife of John Kunkapot, died March 
29, 1742, of consumption — "having enjoyed, all along 
in her sickness, a good hope through grace of a happy 
eternity." 

Katharine Kunkapot, eldest daughter of Kunkapot, 
died in 1 746, " with good hope of future happiness and 
without any fears of death." 



NOTES. 213 

In 1746, died Kewaunnoalikuh, daughter of Naun- 
aunekennuk, " Tvith a strong hope of eternal life." 

Peter Pohquonnoppeet, graduate of Dartmouth Col- 
lege in 1780, called Sir Peter, after the death of King 
Solomon, was one of a council, which governed the 
Stockbridge Indians or regulated their affairs. The 
others were Joseph Quanaukaunt, Capt. Hendrick Au- 
paumut, and Capt. John Kunkapot. The first was 
really chief — but preferred a council. 

The second deacon in the church of Stockbridge was 
Peter Pauquaunaupeet. 

One of my neighbors, a venerable lady now on the 
verge of 80, a granddaughter of President Edwards, 
born in Stockbridge, remembers a Capt. Kunkapot, a 
principal Indian among the Mohegans, who was born in 
1775, and was probably a grandson of the first Capt. 
Kunkapot ; he removed to the West. Madam Dwight 
has not forgotten this anecdote, that as he once visited 
Stockbridge on his return from an agency at Washing- 
ton for the benefit of his tribe, he presented the unusual 
sight of an Indian with a good set of false teeth. When 
rallied for it, he good-humoredly replied, that it was to 
please his squaw ! She remembers also, Capt. Hendrick 
Aupaumut, usually called Hendrick, who died long ago, 
and his daughter Betsey, an intelligent and excellent 
woman. She was the correspondent of Miss Edwards, 
who married Mr. Farrar. Another Indian is by her re- 
membered, — David Naunaunekennuk, usually called 
Nauneek, who was 90 years old about the year 1790. 
Mr. Sergeant baptized him in 1735; he was then "a 



214 NOTES. 

principal man, of a very good temper and good sense, 
honest, faithful, and obliging." When she was a little 
girl, she visited him at his house of two rooms on the 
westerly side of the Hoosatunnuk River. He was said 
to be very rich, the owner of 60 horses. His house was 
afterwards owned by the missionary Kirkland, who en- 
larged it and placed his family in it. This estate, fur- 
nishing an admirable site for an elegant mansion, it is 
said, has recently fallen into the hands of a distinguished 
poet. 

Mr. Sergeant wrote, that when he first came to Stock- 
bridge, there were only 8 or 10 families, but that in 1746 
there were near fifty, and that he had of Indians thirty- 
five regular members of the church, 13 men and 22 wo- 
men, besides half a dozen members under suspension, 
probably for being intoxicated with the strong drink, 
introduced by the Dutch traders. He adds — " of our 
communion have died 8 or 9, most of whom seem to me 
to have left the world with a good Christian temper and 
with a well-grounded hope." At the death of Mr. Ser- 
geant there were 218 Indians, of whom 129 had been 
baptized, and the church-members were 42 : the whole 
number, by him baptized, was 182. Umpachenee, the 
lieutenant, died in peace Aug. 10, 1751. He had been 
overcome by the temptation of intoxicating liquor, but 
was reclaimed and passed his last days without dishon- 
oring his Christian profession. 



NOTES. 215 

Canto 11. Stanm 34, 35. 

The names of Eliot and of others, "who like him toiled 
to instruct the Indians in the great truths of the Chris- 
tian religion, deserve to be held in everlasting remem- 
brance. 

John Eliot, called the Apostle of the Indians, was born 
in 1604, educated at Cambridge, England, and came to 
this country in 1G31. The next year he was settled as 
the minister of Roxbury, where he died May 20, 1G90, 
aged 86. He first preached to the Indians in their lan- 
guage at Newton in 1646. In 1651 an Indian town was 
built on Charles River and called Natick. Here he 
formed the first Indian church in 1660, after the man- 
ner of the Congregational churches. Soon other churches 
were planted. In 1661 he published the New Testa- 
ment in the Natick or Massachusetts language ; and in 
1663 his immense work, the translation of the whole 
Bible, of which a second edition was printed in 1685, — 
entitled Mamusse Wunneetupanatamwe Up-Biblum 
God naneeswe Nukkone Testament kah wonk Wusku 
Testament. The words are generally long. IVIark 1: 40. 
Wuttappesittukqussunnoohwehtunkquoh is one word, 
meaning 'Kneeling down to him.' He published the 
Psalms in Indian metre, and among other works '■ The 
Jews in America,' in order to prove that the Indians 
were Jewish descendants. Mr. Eliot's son, John Eliot, 
minister of Newton, preached to the Indians in Stough- 
ton a few years. He died in 1668, aged 32. 

Daniel Gookin, a graduate of Harvard in 1669, was 
the minister of Sherburne and preached to the Indians 
atNatick. He died in 1718. 



216 NOTES. 

Thomas Mayhew, Governor of Martha's Vineyard^ 
began at the age of seventy to preach to the Indians, about 
1659. He died in 1681, aged 92. 

John Cotton, a graduate of Harvard College in 1657, 
preached to the Indians on Martha's Vineyard from 
1664 to 1667, giving great aid to Mayhew. He was 
afterwards many years the minister of Plymouth. 

John Mayhew, son of Thomas, began to preach to the 
Indians about 1673, being the minister of Tisbury on 
Martha's Vineyard. He died 1689, aged 36, leaving an 
Indian church of 100 communicants and several well- 
instructed Indian teachers in different congregations. 

His son, Experience Mayhew, began to preach to the 
Indians in 1694, taking the oversight of five or six 
of their assemblies. He made a new version of the 
Psalms and of John in 1709, and died in 1758, aged 85. 
He published Indian Converts in 1727, giving an account 
of thirty Indian ministers and of about eighty Indians 
worthy of remembrance for their piety. 

His son, Zechariah Mayhew, a missionary to the same 
Indians, was ordained in 1767, and died in 1806, aged 89. 

Hiacoomes, an Indian preacher, began to teach his 
brethren on Martha's Vineyard in 1645. When an In- 
dian church was formed, Aug. 22, 1670, he and Tacka- 
nash were ordained by Eliot and Cotton as its pastor and 
teacher. He died in 1690, aged nearly 80. Japhet suc- 
ceeded Tackanash. 

Joseph Bourne, a graduate of Harvard College in 
1 722, was a missionary to the Indians at Marshpce from 
1729 to 1742, being the successor of Simon Popmonet, 
and was succeeded by Solomon Briant, an Indian. 



NOTES. 217 

Gideon Hawley was a missionary at Marsbpee from 
1758 till his death in 1807, aged 80 years. 

David Brainerd was a missionary four or five years to 
Indians in New York and New Jersey, and died at Mr. 
Edwards's in Northampton in 1747, aged 29. 

John Sergeant was missionary to the Indians at Hoo- 
satunnuk from 1734 to 1749, when he died at the age 
of 48. 

Jonathan Edwards was his successor from 1751 to 
1758, preaching also to the whites. His assistant in 
teaching the Indians in 1752 and 1753 was Gideon 
Hawley. 

Dr. Stephen West succeeded Mr. Edwards as the min- 
ister of Stockbridge in 1759. To his church he admit- 
ted twenty-two Indians. During his ministry they 
emigrated to New York 

Dr. Eleazar Wheelock, first President of Dartmouth 
College, opened an Indian school at Lebanon Crank, 
now Columbia, in Connecticut, in 1754. His first In- 
dian pupil, some years before, was Samson Occom. In 
1762, he had more than twenty Indian youth under his 
care. The school was known by the name of Moor's 
Indian Charity School, and was in 1770 removed to 
Hanover, New Hampshire, and associated with Dart- 
mouth College, but still kept as a separate institution. 
Here many Indian youth have been educated^ and, 
among them, two sons of the celebrated Brant. Dr. 
E. Wheelock died in 1779, aged 68. For enlarged 
views, for energy and arduous, persevering toils, and 
the great results of his labors in the cause of religion 



218 NOTES. 

and learning, no man is more worthy of being held in 
honor. His son, John Wheelock, LL.D., succeeded him 
both as President of the College and President of the 
Indian School ; and by his successors at the head of the 
College both offices have in like manner been sus- 
tained. 

Canto II. Stanza 38. 

Samuel Newell and Gordon Hall, two of the first 
missionaries sent out to the East by the American Board 
of Missions, sailed in 1812. The former, a graduate of 
Harvard College in 1807, died of the cholera at Bom- 
bay, in 1821. Mr. Hall, a graduate of Williams Col- 
lege in 1808, died also of the cholera in 1826. Mr. 
Newell I well knew as an associate of a small company 
of pious men at Cambridge, and also Mr. Hall as a zeal- 
ous preacher. They wrote together ' The Conversion of 
the World, or the Claims of Six-hundred Millions.' Mr. 
Hall's son, of the same name, is now one of the ministers 
of Northampton ; and his widow lives with his son. 

The real, efficient charity of these American Mission- 
aries, who sacrificed their lives, that they might carry 
the gospel to the perishing idolaters of the East, was 
very difierent from the charity of the East in the idle 
prayers and cheap expedients, described by M. Hue in 
his travels in Tartary relating to the benevolent method 
of sending horses to travellers, as follows : — 

" Sandara proposed to us a service of devotion for all 
travellers through the world. What is it ? — You know, 
that a good many travellers find themselves on rugged 



NOTES. 219 

and toilsome roads. Some are holy lamas on a pilgrim- 
age ; and it often happens, that they cannot proceed, 
and we aid them by sending them horses. ' That,' said 
we, ' is an admirable custom, conformable with the prin- 
ciples of Christian charity ; but we cannot participate 
in the good work, — we have only a horse and a little 
mule to carry us into Thibet.'* He clapped his hands 
and burst into a loud laugh. He ran off, and soon re- 
turned with his hands filled with bits of paper, on which 
were figures of horses saddled and bridled, going at full 
gallop. Here are the horses, he said, which we send to 
travellers. We ascend a high mountain, and after prayer 
throw a packet into the air. The wind carries them, 
and by the power of Buddha they are changed into 
real horses, which offer themselves to the travellers." 

Canto 11. Stanza 42. 

Since these lines were written, England, to her eternal 
honor has Hberated all her slaves in the West In- 
(iies, — an act of humanity and justice to be attributed 
to the earnest efforts of her enlightened patriots and 
Christians. 

But I blush to say, that in our American Republic 
the chains of slavery are every day growing stronger and 
stronger, and the territories devoted to slavery are 
growing wider and wider. In 1790, the slaves were 
less than 700,000; now they are nearly 4,000,000. 
Once the public sentiment, even at the South, was 
against the extension of slavery. Washington, in his 
last vnll, ordered his slaves to be emancipated on the 



220 NOTES. 

death of his wife. John Randolph bequeathed freedom 
to his numerous slaves. Patrick Henry declared his 
persuasion, that the principle of slavery is " as repug- 
nant to humanity, as it is inconsistent with the Bible, 
and destructive to liberty." Mr. Jefferson said, in his 
Notes on Virginia, in reference to the holding of slaves, 
" I tremble for my country, when I remember, that God 
is just ! " 

But at the present moment all the States of the 
South are struggling, through the aid of the border- 
ruffians of Missouri, who arc slave-holders, to render 
the territory of Kansas, which by the compromise act 
of 1820 was forever consecrated to freedom, a slave 
State, in order that the South may get the certain and 
lasting control of the government of our country. And 
I am not certain, that there is a voice in the whole 
South, which dares now to utter what her great men 
of clear intellect, embracing the principles of human 
freedom, in former days could not avoid honestly and 
loudly proclaiming, 

In respect to the teaching of the gospel of Jesus 
Christ on this subject, one precept is in my view con- 
clusive : " All things whatsoever ye would, that men 
should do to you, do ye even so to them." To an 
honest slave-holder, inquiring as to his duty, T would 
recommend, that he should meditate upon this precept, 
and answer to his own mind the folloAving questions : 
' Were you and your children slaves, would you not like 
to be free ? Would you not wish your master to set 
you free V * 



NOTES. 221 

As to the import of the Constitution and the powers 
conferred by it on the General Government in regard 
to slavery, I know no higher authority, than the opinion 
of the late Mr. Webster. It was his judgment, 1. That 
the Constitution does not give the General Govern- 
ment any power to recover out of a State an escaped 
slave : it only declares the duty of a State to deliver 
up one escaped from labor or service " on claim of the 
party" to whom the labor and service are due. 2. 
That the Constitution gives the General Government 
power to refuse the admission into the Union of any 
new slave State. He said in Congress in 1845, "I do not 
think, that the Free States ever expected, that they 
should be called on to admit more Slave States, hav- 
ing the unequal advantages arising to them from the 
mode of apportioning representatives under the existing 
Constitution." In his speech at Buffalo he said, " I 
never would consent, that there should be one foot of 
slave territory beyond what the old 13 States had at 
the time of the foundation of the Union. Never, 
never ! " 

In a speech at New York, in 1837, he said, " When it 
is proposed to bring new members into this political part- 
nership, the old members have a right to say, on what 
terms such new partners arc to come in, and what they 
are to bring along with them." 

If the free spirit of the fathers should govern their 
children, will they not, at this late hour, say, that no new 
States shall ever henceforth enter into our free Union 
" bringing along with them " human beings, immortal 



222 NOTES. 

men, as slaves ? But those among us, who have travelled 
far into years and who have not forgotten the days of 
Washington, have the bitter, humiliating reflection, that 
while their memory reaches back to the period, when a 
band of strugglers for freedom reared up a free, repub- 
lican government, those heroes and their families, all 
counted, are now equalled in numbers by the men 
among us, who wear the chains of a miserable slavery. 
Will not all good men labor and pray to God, that these 
chains may be broken ? 

If the result of the present contest, the most extraor- 
dinary and important, which our country ever witnessed, 
should be in favor of liberty, and Kansas should be 
added to the free States, and afterwards no new slave 
State should ever be added to the fifteen now in our 
Union of 31 States, still the huge mass of slavery will 
remain in our country, its reproach, its crime, its peril ; 
removable — not by the action of the General Govern- 
ment, which has no authority as to slavery, as it exists, 
except in the District of Columbia, and in the Territo- 
ries, and on that great highway, the ocean,^but only 
by the awakened conscience and recovered wisdom of 
the citizens of the slave-holding States. When the 
wise, and benevolent, and patriotic men of the South 
shall apply themselves to the work, they will not plead 
the danger of freedom ; they caniiot fail readily to dis- 
cover the safe method of restoring liberty to their miser- 
able brethren in bondaire. 



NOTES. 223 

Canto II. Stanza 49. 
Cicero believed the immortal existence of the soul, and 
in thinking of the hour, when his spirit should pass 
away from the earth and mingle with the spirits of the 
departed good and illustrious, he exclaimed : " O prse- 
clarum diem, cum ad illud divinum animorum con- 
cilium, coetumque proficiscar, cumque ex hac turba et 
coUuvione discedam ! " 

Canto III. Stanza 19. 
The meaning of Waunseet in the Mohegan language 
is " the man, who is beautiful." 

Canto III. Stanza 22. 
My companions at the White Hills, nearly forty years 
ago, as I well remember, were Nathaniel H. Carter and 
Levi Woodbury. With our coats off we jumped over 
the Saco, there but a brook, and clambered up the rocky 
side of the mountain in pursuit of the crystals. The former 
was a scholar of a fine taste and a most amiable man, who 
died at Marseilles in 1830. He was the editor of papers 
in Albany and New York. His interesting letters from 
Europe, in 2 vols., were pubhshed in 1827. The latter, 
who died in 1851, was very distinguished in public life, — 
a Senator, Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of the 
Treasury, and Judge of the Supreme Court. We found 
with pleasure the beryls on the hill ; but in thinking of 
our dead friends the gems of earthly honor do not beam 
brightly on the eye. 



224 NOTES. 

Or Northern streamers play 
Their wondrous frolics in their pure and bright array. 

Canto III. St. 33. 
Of the many beautiful displays of the Northern Lights, 
■which I have witnessed, the most remarkable were those 
of Nov. 17, 1835, Aug. 12, 1836, Jan. 25, and July 1, 
1837, Feb. 21, Sept. 14, 1838, and Sept. 3, 6, and 29, 
1851. The broad bows across the northern heavens, 
with the masses of light shooting up from their borders, 
the rich crimson beams overspreading the sky, the rush- 
ing waves, the varj'ing hues of the rapid streamers or 
merry dancers, mounting to the zenith from every point 
of the horizon, and near the zenith forming a crown as 
for the author of nature, could not fail to overwhelm 
me with wonder and delight. 

Canto III. Stanza 35. 
It is now fifty-two years, since in 1804, after a solitary 
ride of four or five hundred miles on horseback, I reached 
Buffalo, now a great city, but then a village of nineteen 
houses : at Black Rock, on the shore of the Niagara, I 
met a majestic Indian, the famous Red Jacket, or Sagu- 
oaha, who was attending his little granddaughter, as 
from a rock she cast her hook into the stream ; and here 
by a ferry I crossed the river, and rode down to Chippe- 
way and the Falls on the Canada side. I think it was 
in 1818, that the projecting shelf, known as Table Rock, 
fell into the abyss below ; yet the general features of the 
shore are very Httie changed from what they were, when 
in my youth I gazed upon them. 



NOTES. 225 

The heavens every day and every night present to 
the eyes of all men the most magnificent and the sub- 
limcst objects ; but of the things of the earth among the 
sublimest, which I have been permitted to see, I may 
mention the Falls of the Niagara, the great lakes of the 
West and the Atlantic ocean of the East, the view from 
the top of Mount Washington, in JSTew Hampshire, and 
at Mont Alvert at the foot of Mont Blanc in Switzer- 
land. Of the beautiful scenes of the earth, that, which 
delights the eye from the top of Mount Holyoke, which 
lifts itself up before the window of my house, in which 
I write, is one of the most beautiful. 

Canto III. Stanza 36. 
It was in 1812, that Mrs. Sarah Gumming, the wife of 
Eev. Hooper Gumming, of Newark, fell from the rocks 
at the Patterson Falls of the Passaic into the gulf below. 
She was with her husband, and had been married but a 
few weeks. 

Metliinks the praise of war 1 could recite. 

Ganto III. St. 54. 
The author was among the half dozen of Delegates 
from Massachusetts, who in August 1849 attended the 
large Peace Gongress at Paris, consisting of many hun- 
dred members from England, Scotland, and several 
countries of the Gontinent. Louis Napoleon was then 
the President of the Republic : to him the Gongress 
sent a committee with some good resolutions relating to 
the proportional disbanding by the nations of Europe of 
14 



226 NOTES. 

their costly armies and the settlement of national diffi- 
culties by arbitration. He received the Committee with 
good words, and one of his ministers made a grand en- 
tertainment for the whole Congress, and treated their 
ears with martial music from a band of a hundred players. 

When soon afterwards the President, by the aid 
of the soldiery, and at the expense of much blood, 
made himself the Emperor of France, what became of 
the scholarly, eloquent, and illustrious presiding officer 
of our peace company, Victor Hugo ? He was banished 
from his country, driven into exile, through fear of his 
influence in favor of liberty ; and thus he remains, while 
the triumphant aspirant to a crown lives in high com- 
munion with the kings of Europe and has just finished 
the sacrifice of one or two hundred thousand strong- 
bodied Frenchmen at Sebastopol, whose lives would 
have been spared, if our good peace advice had been 
followed. 

I cannot doubt, but the illustrious exile will in this 
moment of triumph, of exultation, and of composure be 
recalled to his beloved France. Indeed, the Emperor 
has nothing to fear from him, for henceforth his political 
life is over, and there is left to him only the life of a 
scholar. 

At the moment of writing this, May 13th, with great 
joy I am able to say, that only twenty days ago Victor 
Hugo reappeared in the city of Paris, — not indeed per- 
sonally, but in the heart-born book of ' Contemplations ' 
in two volumes, a whole edition of which was sold in one 
day. How is it possible, that his delighted readers will 



NOTES. 227 

not be allowed very soon to welcome him in person, as 
he shall come to dwell for the remainder of his days in 
his own beautiful city ? 

This book contains his poetry of a quarter of a cen- 
tury, written between 1830 and 1855, poems of joy and 
of sorrow ; — and they are written, as all poetry should 
be written, from the heart. He says in his preface — 
"What are the Contemplations? If the expression 
was not too assuming, they might be called the Memoirs 
of a Soul. And my life is yours ; your life is mine : 
you live what I live ; destiny is one. Take then this 
mirror, and in it look upon yourself" 

This, I am persuaded, is the right conception of the 
most effective poetry. If the I is banished; if the poet 
hides himself; if the poet's heart feels not and his tongue 
speaks not, mere abstractions will not have a controlling 
power over the soul. The poet must utter his own heart- 
felt conceptions ; and they must be right and true and 
worthy of being uttered. 

Hugo speaks of sorrow— " the true, sole sorrow. Death ; 
the loss of loved ones." As I have not read his book, I 
know not what are his sources of consolation ; but as I 
can sympathize with him in his sorrow, even in his 
precise sorrow of the loss of an eldest daughter, 
accomplished and in the bloom of youth, — and perhaps 
sympathize the more, because she was of French descent, 
inheriting the Huguenot name of Malleville, a name 
dear to me beyond that of all others — so I commend 
him, not to any vain and idle philosophy, but to the grace 
of the living, enthroned Redeemer of sinners, through 



228 NOTES. 

whose death and resurrection " life and immortality are 
brought to light." 

Canto IV. Stanza 1. 
In the town of East Hoosuck, now Adams, a fort was 
built in 1742, called Fort Massachusetts, designed to in- 
tercept the French and Indians, who by the way of the 
Hudson and the Hoosuck might wish to attack the set- 
tlements on the Connecticut. This fort, with only 
twenty-two ejQfective men, under Col. Hawks, was cap- 
tured by 8 or 900 of the enemy under Gen. De Vau- 
dreuil, Aug. 22, 1746, after Hawks had exhausted his 
ammunition in a two days' brave defence of his post. 
Of the captured was John Norton, the chaplain. As 
the fort was rebuilding the next year an attack was made, 
in which a friendly Indian from Stockbridge was killed. 
Col. Williams defended the fort Aug. 2, 1748, against 
200 of the enemy ; he was killed at Lake George in 
Sept. 1755. Again was the fort attacked June 7, 1756. 

Canto IV. Stanza 2. 
Mr. Stevens and Miss Piercy were, in 1755, fleeing 
from Pittsfield on one horse. At the south part of 
Lenox, near a ledge of rocks, he was shot by the Indians 
and fell, while she rode away on the same horse and 
reached Stockbridge in safety. 

Canto IV. Stanza 13. 
George Sackville, or Lord George Germain, one of 
the King's Ministers, in his letter of instructions to Sir 



NOTES. 229 

Guy Carlton, 1777, says, it was the King's determination 
to employ most of his forces " upon two expeditions, the 
one under Lieut. Gen. Burgoyne, who is to force his 
way to Albany ; the other under Lieut. Col. St. Leger, 
who is to make a diversion by way of the Mohawk River. 
As this plan cannot be so advantageously executed with- 
out the assistance of the Canadians and L^dians, his 
IViajesty strongly recommends to your care to furnish 
both expeditions with good and sufficient bodies of those 
men." 

In the last manifesto of the British Commissioners in 
1778, they say, that if the terms of peace are rejected 
by the United States, " they were to expect more severe 
expressions of British vengeance." This called forth in- 
dignant comments in Parliament. The Marquis of 
Buckingham declared it " a proclamation contrary to hu- 
manity, to Christianity, and to every idea of virtuous 
policy." The Bishop of Peterborough said, " that in the 
account of the extraordinaries of the army for the last year, 
charges were made for the tomahawk and scalping-knife^ 
that is for the Indians in our service exercising their hor- 
rid butcheries." Lord Camden said, " the declaration in 
the proclamation held forth a war of revenge, such as 
Moloch in pandemonium of hell advised." Mr. Burke 
said, ' the extremes of war ' threatened, " meant the 
killing man, woman, and child, burning their houses, 
ravaging their lands, annihilating huiflanity from off the 
face of the earth, or rendering life so wretched, that 
death would be preferable. And this dreadful menace 
was against men conscious of rectitude, who acted in a 



230 NOTES. 

good cause, and stood to fight for freedom and their 
counti^." The dark-minded Germain was obliged to 
hear all this, and " attempted to soften and explain 
away the rigor of the expressions." A venal majority in 
ParHament prevented the vote of censure ; but thirty- 
one of the House of Lords entered their protest against 
" the return of that ferocity, which a beneficial religion, 
enlightened manners, and true military honor had for a 
time banished the Christian world." In the phrase, 
' true military honor,' there was a point of great keenness 
to a man, who, though now as the Secretary, managing 
the scalping-knife war in America, had for his miscon- 
duct in the battle of Minden been solemnly adjudged 
incapacitated for any military office whatever. 

The next year after Lord George Germain had directed 
the employment of the Indians, Col. John Butler, a Tory 
refugee, with 900 Indians and 200 whites, destroyed in 
July, 1 778, Wyoming, on the Susquehanna, in Pennsyl- 
vania, the savages committing a horrible massacre. 
There were 200 widows made in one day. Charles 
Miner, in his copious history of Wyoming, 1845, gives 
a minute description of the horrors of the savage torture 
and murder of the prisoners, and of the flight in the 
wilderness of women and children. 

The writer, long ago an admirer, like our young 
scholars, of the style of the Letters of Junius, was at 
length led by curiosity to examine with great attention 
several books on the authorship of those celebrated 
Letters ; and in his view the evidence was satisfactory 
and conclusive, as unfolded by G. Coventry in 1825, in 



NOTES. 231 

his Critical Enquiry into the Letters of Junius, that 
Lord George Sackville was the author; and here perhaps 
the writer may be excused for saying, that he himself 
was the author of a small anonymous book, published at 
Boston, in 1828, by Hilllard, Gray, Little & Wilklns, 
entitled ' Junius Unmasked,' restating briefly the exist- 
ing arguments and furnishing many new ones to prove 
Sackville to be the author. If the proof is good, there 
is no mistake in ascribing the savage though polished 
Letters of Junius to the mind of the King's Minister, 
who, in order to conquer the stubborn Americans, 
instructed Sir Guy Carlton to employ the Indians with 
their tomahawks and scalplng-knives, and skill in slow 
tortures. 

Canto IV. Stanza 37. 
As Jonathan Edwards was the name of both father 
and son, and as each was the President of a College, they 
are apt to be confounded. The father was the Presi- 
dent of Nassau Hall, Princeton, and died in 1 758 ; the 
son was the President of Union College, Schenectady, 
and died in 1801. He had the title of Doctor in Theol- 
ogy, which his father had not, although he was the illus- 
trious teacher of theological and metaphysical learning. 
The father was the missionary to the Stockbridge In- 
dians, though it was the son, who published ' Observa- 
tions on the Mohegan Language.' The works of Presi- 
dent Edwards were published by his descendant. Dr. 
Sereno E. D wight, with his Ufe, in 10 vols.: the works 
of Dr. Edwards, the son, were published in 2 vols. 



232 NOTES. 



OF THE MOHEGAN LANGUAGE. 

The Mohegan, as explained by Dr. Edwards, who ac- 
quired it in childhood, when his father was a missionary 
in the Hoosatunnuk Valley, was briefly as follows : It 
abounds in labials, of which the Mohawk is destitute ; 
as the Mohawks never closed their lips, they used to 
boast, that they kept their mouths open, while they 
spoke, and other Indians did not. The same words ex- 
press he and she, him and her : a man would say of his 
wife, ' he sick ; he gone away.' To a noun an is added 
to express his ; as wnechun, child ; wnechunan, his child. 
The plural is formed by the addition of k or uk, as ne- 
mannau, a man, nemannauk, men ; penumpausoo, a boy, 
penumpausoouk, boys. An elder and a younger brother 
are distinguished by the two words, netohcon and nghee- 
sum; and so sisters are distinguished by nmass and 
ngheesum. The younger brother and sister are denoted 
by the same word. The Mohegans have no use for 
adjectives to express qualities, which is done by neuter 
verbs, as wnissoo, he is beautiful ; mtissoo, he is homely. 
They suffer no inconvenience from this loss of adjectives. 
As their active verbs are declined, so are these verbs of 
qualities ; as npumseh, I walk ; kpumseh, thou walkest ; 
npumsehnuh, he walketh ; ni^umsehnuh, we walk; 
kpumsehmuh, ye walk; pumissoouk, they walk: so 
npehtuhquissoo, I am tall ; kpehtuhquisseh, thou art tall ; 
pehtuhquissoo, he is tall, &c. They have participles, as 



NOTES. W 233 

paumseet, tlie man wlio -walks ; oloteet, the man who 
fights. They have no relatives like our who and which : 
instead of the man who walks, they say, the walking 
man or the walker. By adverbs they express degrees, 
as annuweeweh wnissoo, he is more beautiful ; kahnuh 
wnissoo, he is very beautiful. They have prefixes and 
aflixes like the Hebrews, and sometimes both. They 
have no absolute word, as father, but always say, nogh, 
my father ; kogh, thy father, &c. They cannot say I 
love, but I love him or her ; nor say, John loves Peter, 
but John he loves him Peter, John uduhwhunuw Peter- 
an. As Neah is I ; Keah, thou ; Uwoh, he, this man ; 
so n or ne is prefixed to denote the first person ; k or ka 
to denote the second ; and u or uw, or oo suflixed to 
denote the third. The plural has the suffix nuh, a3 
noghnuh, our father. Neaunuh means we, keauwuh 
means yp. 

The following are the principal Mohegan words, as 
used in the Hoosatunnuk Valley, which have been pre- 
served. 

Air, Auwon. Beaver, Amisk. 

Autumn, T'quauquuh. Book, OotJwohhagaun. 

Bad, Machtit. Boy, Penumpausoo. 

Bean, Tupohquaun. Elder brother, Netohcon. 

Bear, M'quoh. \ Elder brothers, Netohconuk. 

He is beautiful, Wnissoo. 'His child, Wnechun. 
She is beautiful, Wunrds- Q\oMi[^ M'taucq. 
soo. :Cold, T'hauthu. 

The man who is beautiful, j Indian com, Shamonun. 
Waunseet. j Coward, Matansautee. 



234 



NOTES. 



You are a coward, Kmat- 

tanissauteuh. 
Daughter, O'toosaun. 
Dawn, Pautaupon. 
A day, WauJcaumauw. 
Dead, or he is dead, Neepoo, 

or nboo. 
I die, Nup. 
To die, Nip. 
A duck, QueecJiamo. 
Ear, TowoTiq. 
East, WaucTiunoong. 
I eat, Nmeetseli. 
Thou eatest, Kmeetseh. 
He eateth, Meetsoo. 
Eat thou, Meetseh. 
Eight, Ghusooh. 
Evening, Tliaughesu^ or 

Oonaugoosliik. 
Eye, FIJceesJc. 
His eyes, Ukeesquan. 
Our father, Noghnuh, 
My father, A%7i. 
Thy father, /%7«. 
I fight, Ndiotuiooh. 
The fighter, Oitee^ j 

Fire, Stauw. 
Fish, Namas, or namase. 
Four, Nauwoli. i 

Girl, Peesquausoo. \ 



You are a girl, Kpeesqua- 

sooeli. 
Give it him, Meenuh. 
God, Pautaumouwoth. 
He goes, Pumissoo. 
Good, TFtmnee^. 
Good for nothing, iJii!z7. 
Goose, TFopaso. 
My grandchild, Naughees. 
Great, or he is great, ilihc- 

Hail, Sassagua. 
Hair, WegJiaukun. 
My hand, Nnisk. 
Thy hand, Knisk. 
His hand, Unisk. 
Handsome, Wunnitt. 
Hatchet, Tmohhecan. 
My hatchet, Ndumliecan. 
Thy hatchet, Ktumhecan. 
His hatchet, Utumliecan. 
Your hatchet, Kiumliecan- 

nooiouli. 
He, C7wo^. 

His head, C/i!i<27,also Wsensis. 
His heart, ZJifo)^. 
Hill, Gh'aukoock. 
He is homely, Mtisissoo. 
House, Weekuicuhm. 
Husband, W'ghaun. 



NOTES. 



235 



Her husband, WaugTiecheh. 

I, Neah. 

Ice, M'quaumeeJc, Mooquau- 
meh. 

Impostor, or he is an impos- 
tor, Mtissoo. 

Indian corn, Skammonun. 

Island, M'nauhaun. 

Dress the kettle, or make a 
fire, Pootouwah. 

King, Kioweenooh. 

Lake, 'Pquauglion. 

Light, Wauntliaujouw. 

Lightning, Waywassimo. 

Love, Uhwliundowukon. 

I love thee, Ktuliwhunin. 

I love you, Ktuhwliunooli- 
muh. 

Malice, Nsconmoioiikon. 

He is malicious, Nsconmoo. 

A man, Nemannauoo. 

He is a man, Nemannauwoo. 

Marry, Weenween. 

Men, Nemannauk. 

Moon, NepauJiauch. 

Month, Geezis. 

More, Anuweeioeh. 

Morning, NaujaupauwP-w or 
Keegeezhaih. 

Mother, O'kegaun. 



Mountain, W'chu, Whau- 

clioo. 
Good for nought, Mtit. 
Night, P'quaunaujouhf or 

T', &c. 
Nine, Nauneeweh. 
Noon, Nauwuckway. 
North, Keeimydenoong. 
Old man, 'Kchee. 
Partridge, PaJipahcogli. 
Queen, Sunck. 
Kaln, Sookanoun or Thock- 

naim, and Kimewun. 
Rainbow, Anuquaun. 
Religion, Perjuhtommauwu- 

kon. 
River, Seepoo, or Theepow. 
Rock, Thanaumku. 
The sea, Ktaunnauppeh. 
Shoe, Mkissin. 
I sing, Nacligo cJiema. 
Sit down, Mattipelu 
Sky, Onauwauk. 
Snow, Psaun or Psaune and 

M'sauneeJi. 
South, Oshawanoong. 
Star, Anocksuk. 
Stockbridge, Wnoghque- 

tookoke. 
Summer, Neepon, 



236 



NOTES. 



Sun, Keesogh, also a month. 

Ten, Mtannit. 

Thou art tall, Kpehtuhquis- 

seh. 
He is tall, Pehtuhquissoo. 
Ye are tall, Kpehtuhquis- 

selimuh. 
His teeth, Wepeeton, 
Thou, Keali. 
Thunder, Pautquauhan,dind 

Annemeekee. 
Tree, Machtok. 
Two, Neesoli. 
He is ugly, Machtill. 
My uncle, Nsees. 
Very, Kahnuh. 



To walk, Anneh. 
I walk, i\^wm.s^e7i. 
Thou walkest, Kpumseh. 
He walking, Paumseet. 
Ye walk, Kpumsehmuh. 
Walk thou, Pumisseh. 
We, Neaunnuh. 
West, Cauheunoong. 
White people, Chuckopek. 
Wife, T^ee^6'one. 
Wind, Ksaughon. 
Winter, Poo?i, or Hpoon. 
A Woman, P'ghainoom. 
Ye, Keauwuh. 
Yesterday, PFnM^'MM;oA. 
Young man, Eeowthkenooh. 



Page 159. 
As the first poetical piece in this volume is a dedica- 
tion to my wife, and the last relates to her death, so this 
last Note is, in the providence of God, not foreign to her. 
In the course of printing, the stereotype-plate proof 
sheet of the lines on her death, which was June 3, 1828, 
came to me yesterday, oh the memorable day, June 3, 
1856 ; and on the same evening a grandchild, two years 
old, Harriet, daughter of Rev. John Wheelock Allen of 
Wisconsin, died in my house, being seized only the pre- 
ceding evening by scarlatina. She is to be placed in the 



NOTES. 237 

grave by the side of two other grandchildren of the ages 
of five and six years, victims to the same plague, who 
A few days ago died in a neighboring house, John and 
Charlotte, children of Erastus and Charlotte Hopkins. 
In my sorrow in the loss of these three beautiful chil- 
dren, — my daily delight in my old age, — ^I find a source 
of joy in the persuasion, that ' the elect angels ' have 
conveyed their spirits to the arms of my Malleville, and 
thus perhaps added to her bliss in the- presence of her 
Redeemer. Mourners of the earth ! May God in his 
mercy allow you to cherish the hope of a re-union, in 
joy uninterrupted, with those, whom you mourn. Fare- 
well. 



